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LIBERTY PRIMER 



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THE COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BELL 
A MISSIONARY OF LIBERTY AND PEACE 



LIBERTY PRIMER. 




GIVING THE DATES OK THE ANNIVERSARIES COMMEMORATED BY 
THE RINGING OF 

THE COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BELL 

COMPILED BY 

WILLIAM O. MCDOWELL, NEWARK, N. J., 

CHAIRMAN OP THE COLUMBIAN LIBERTY BRLL COMMITTEE; 

WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF 

JOHN CLARK RIDPATH, HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH, 

HENRY BALDWIN, LOULIE M. GORDON, 

WILLIAM SALTER. 

SPKCIAL COMMITTEE ON ANNIVERSARIES TO BE COMMEMORATED BY THE 
RINGING OF THK BELL. 

JAKITARY, KEBRUARV, INARCH, APRII^. 



"^ When a deed is done for freedom, through the broad earth's aching breast 
Runs a thrill of joy prophetic, trembling on from east to west. 
* * * 

For mankind are one in spirit, and an instinct bears along 
Round the earth's electric circle, the swift flash of right or wrong; 
VVhcther conscious or unconscious, yet humanity's vast frame, 
Through its ocean-sundered fibres, feels the gush of joy or shr^me ; 
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim."— /.ow*?//. 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



Copyright 1S94, by 
William O. McDowell, Chairnuin. 



61503 . 

J5 •* 



61503 






&\boi 






LIBERTY'S BELL 

BY MRS. MADGE MOEEIS WAGNER, SAN DIEGO, CAL. 

" There 's a legend told of a far-off laud "— 

The laud of a king — where the people planned 

To build them a bell that never should riug 

But to tell of the death or the birth of a king, 

Or proclaim an event, with its swinging slow. 

That could startle the nation to joy or woe. . • ' • 

It was not to be build ed — this bell that they planned — 
Of common ore dug from the breast of the land, 
But of metal first moulded by skill of all arts — 
Built of the treasures of fond human hearts. 
And from all o'er the land like pilgrims they came, " 
Each to oast in a burden, a mite in the flame- . ^ 

Of the furnace — his offering — to mingle and swell *• 
In the curious mass of this wonderful bell. 

Knights came in armor and flung in the shields 

That had warded off blows on the Saracen fields, 

Freemen brought chains from prisons afar — 

Bonds that had fettered the captives of war. 

And sabers were cast in the molten flood 

Stained with the crimson of heroes' blood. 

Pledges of love, a bracelet, a ring, 

A gem that had gleamed in the crown of a king, 

The coins that had ransomed a maiden from death, 

The words, hot with eloquence, caught from the breath 

Of a sage, and a prayer from the lips of a slave 

Were heard and recorded, and cast in the wave 

To be melted and moulded together, and tell 

The tale of their wrongs in the tones of the beU. 

It was finished at last, and, by artisan hand, 

On its ponderous beams hung high over the land. 

The slow years passed by ; but no sound ever fell 

On a listening ear from the tongue of the bell. 

The brown spider wove her frail home on its walls, 

And the dust settled deep in its cavernous halls. 

Men laughed in derision, and scoffed at the pains 

Of the builders ; and harder and harder the chains 

Of a tyrannous might on the people were laid ; 

More insatiate, more servile, the tribute they paid. 

There was something they found far more cruel than death 

And something far sweeter than life's fleeting breath. 



But, hark ! in the midst of the turbulent throng, 

The moans of the weak acd the groans of the strong, 

There 's a cry of alarm. Some invisible power 

Is moving the long silent bell in the tower. 

Forward a-ad backward, and forward it swung, 

And Liberty ! Liberty ! Liberty ! rung 

From its v.iJe, brazen throat, over mountain and vale, 

Till the seas caught the echo, and monarchs turned pale. 

Our forefathers heard it — that wild thrilling tone. 

Ringing out to the world, and they claimed it their own. 

And uo from the valley, and down from the hill. 

From the flame of the forge, from the field and the mill 

They paid with their lives the price of its due. 

And left it a legacy, freemen, to you, 

And ever when danger is menacing nigh, 

The mighty bell swings in the belfry on high, 

And men wake fiom their dreams, and grasp in affright 

Thei<fewords, when its warning sweeps out in the night. 

It rang in wild paean o'er war's gory waves 

AVhen the gyves were unloosed from our millions of slaves ; 

It started with horror and trembled a knell 

From ocean to ocean, when brave Lincoln fell. 

And again its wild notes sent a thrill through the land 

When Garfield was struck by a traitorous hand. 

And once in each year as time onward rolls, 

Slowly and mufled and mournful it tolls 

A dirge, while Columbia pauses to spread 

A tribute of lo^•e on the graves of her dead. 

While Washington's name is emblazoned in gold. 
While the valor of Putman, or Campbell is told, 
While patriots treasure the words of a Hayne, 
The fiery drops from the pen of a Paine ; 
While dear is the name of child, mother or wife. 
Or sweet to a soul is the measure of life, 
America's sons will to battle prepare 
When its tones of alarm ring aloud on the air ; 
For Liberty's goddess holds in her white hand 
The cord of the bell that swings over our land. 



LIBERTY PRIMER. 



The Great Columbian Liberty and Peace Bell has four duties : 

First — Ringing on the anniversaries of the birth of the creators of 

liberty, nine a.m., the signal being three strokes to call attention ; 

then seven strokes, this being the number of letters in the vpord 

"liberty," rung at intervals of ten seconds. 

Second — At ten a.m., in the spirit of prophecy. This is a very rare 
ceremony. The first time the Great Bell rang in prophecy was on 
October 11th, 1893, at the hour when theAVorld's Parliament of Religions 
assembled in the Art Institute, Chicago, on which occasion, besides the 
signal of three strokes to call attention, one stroke was given for each of 
the religions represented in the Congress. 

Third — At twelve noon, on the anniversaries of the great liberty 
events in the world's history. The signal at this hour is in two forms. 
First, the "liberty signal," which consists of three quick strokes to call 
attention. Then thirteen strokes, the number of the colonies that 
created the United States, rung at intervals of ten seconds. 

The second and "great liberty signal" consists of three strokes 
quickly given to call attenti n, and then one stroke recorded for each of 
the States and Territories in the United States, including the District of 
Columbia and Alaska, closing with five strokes for the other nations, all 
at intervals of ten seconds. 

The great signal is made use of on the Fourth of July and also in 
foreign countries when the bell on their soil commemorates the event 
that comes nearest to being to their people what the Fourth of July is to 
the citizens of the United States. When the great signal is given on 
foreign soil, the number of strokes is based upon some fact in connection 
with that nation's history. As an illustration, when the great signal was 
rung at the Columbian Exhibition on the occasion of celebrating Mexican 
Day, the number of strokes given was fixed by the number of states and 
territories in the Mexican Republic. 

Fourth — In jirotest when some backward step is taken by the 
representatives of republican institutions. The ringing in protest is 
always at midnight and consists of a tocsin or rapid ringing in alarm. 
The bell has never, up to this date, rung in protest. 



6 LIBKRTY PEIMER 

INSTRUCTIONS. 

The Columbian Liberty Bell Committee have had a quantity of 
small Souvenir Liberty Bells made from the surplus historic metal saved 
in casting the great bell. 

The Souvenir Bells are handsomely mounted on a bronze frame and 
standards similar to the hanging of a regular church bell. Each Sou- 
venir Bell has the three texts engraved upon it, copied from the Colum- 
bian Liberty Bell : 

I. 

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants 
thereof," (Lev. xxv. 10,) as appears upon the Independence or "Old 
Liberty Bell." 

II. 

" Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward 
men," (Luke.ii. 14,) as appears on the Centennial Bell of 1876, Inde- 
pendence Hall, Philadelphia. 

III. 

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another," 
( John xiii. 34, ) adopted as the special text of the Columbian Liberty 
Bell. 

These little bells are especially intended for schools, and ' ' Liberty 
Primer" is to accompany them and give the dates and hour when the 
great bell rin.o;s, that every celebration around the great bell may be 
repeated at the same hour in the schools throughout the world. 

The Souvenir bell should be placed on brackets in the most conspic- 
uous place in the school or assembly room, at a height enabling scholars 
to conveniently reach the cord with which the bell is to be rung. 

It is suggested that the liell be surmounted by a canopy formed of 
the National Ilag crossed and entwined with the beautiful Peace Flag, 
which consists of a National Flag entirely surrounded by a border of 
white one-third the width of the flag used for this purpose. The same 
arrangement of the white border around the flag of any nation forms its 
own appropriate Liberty and Peace Flag. 

If the celebration is to occur at nine o'clock. ( immediately after the 
school is in order,) the teacher will announce from Liberty Primer the 
anniversary and why it is celebrated, and then selecting one of the 
scholars, in recognition of some manly or womanly act of patriotism, 
generosity or nobility of character, after explaining to the scholars why 
this honor is conferred, will direct such scholar to ring the bell. 

The three strokes calling attention can be replaced with a rapid 
ringing of the little bell. Then the teacher can wait a half minute, and 
at intervals of ten seconds have the bell rung, the ringing to take the place 
of the stroke upon the great bell. The hours for ringing the great bell in 



I.IBEKTY PRIMER 



commemoration of events, have been fixed at nine and twelve for the 
convenience of schools, the first being the hour of assembling, and the 
second the noon hour. This last can take place just previous to the 
hour of twelve, so that it shall not interfere with the dismissal. 

These celebrations can also be made the occasion of securing a visit 
from parents, which is exceedingly desirable. 

The Committee in charge are desirous of placing one of these bells 
and Primer in every school house in the world, and we would urge that 
in the United States on February 22d and July 4th, a public celebration 
be had at every school house around the school house liberty pole bearing 
the star spangled banner, that your Souvenir Liberty Bell be made 
use of, and that a thank off-ering for liberty be made and sent to this 
Committee to be used to present Souvenir Bells and Liberty Primers to 
schools in all parts of the world. Every school or patrL.tic society con- 
tributing $15 will receive a present of a Sauveuir Liberty Bell and 
Liberty Primer. 




LIBERTY PRIMER 9 

HISTORICAL 

The Columbian Liberty Bell is the first deliberately created Liberty 
Bell as a Liberty Bell to ring only on the anniversaries of Liberty Events 
in the history of the world. Over 22,000 different contributions of 
metal identified with efforts forLiberty or with the lives of the "Creators 
of Liberty," enter into its composition. Over 250,000 pennies were sent 
in. The bell was the central feature of the Fourth of July celebration 
at the World's Columbian Exposition, being rung for the first time 
jointly that day, by telegraphic wire, by Mrs. Madge Morris Wagner, 
of San Diego, California, the authoress of the ijoem (printed with this) 
which crystallized the thought, in the mind of the originator of the 
bell, that led to its creation, and Miss Minnie F. Michley, of Penn- 
.sylvania, Secretary of the Committee. 

In the next issue of Liberty Primer, giving April, May and June, a 
more full and detailed historical sketch will l)e given. 



January 1st, 1735. Paul Revere born at Boston, Mass. 

In 1756 he was a Lieutenant of Artillery stationed at Lake George. 
He took part in the expedition to Crown Point. 

He learned the art of copper plate engraving, and in 1795, engraved 
the paper money issued by the Legislature of Massachusetts. 

He was one of those who took part in the "Boston Tea party," 
December Ifith, 1773. On the night of the 18th of April, 1775, learning 
that the British troops were to advance for the purpose of seizing the 
military stores at Concord, he set out at cnce on horseback and warned 
the ijeople as far as Lexington of the danger, and prepared them for the 
battle at Lexington on the next day. Before the evacuation of Boston a 
regiment of artillery was formed of which he was Lieutenant Colonel. 
He took i^art in the Penobscot Expedition. After the war he resumed 
business at Boston. In 1795 as Grand Master of the Free-Masons of 
Massachusetts he laid the corner-stone of the new State House at Boston. 
He died at Boston, May 10th, 1818. 

" The spark struck out by that steed in his flight 
Kindled the lauel into flame with its heat." — Longfelloiv. 

January 1st, 1745. Gen. Anthony Wayne born at East Town, Chester Co., Pa. 
Mad Anthony Wa^'ne. At the age of 16 he went out into the world. 
In September, 1765, he was Colonel of a regiment of Volunteers, and in 
1776 his regiment was acce^jted by Congress. He was Brigadier General 
on February 21st, 1777. In command at Ticonderoga from November, 
1776 to May, 1777. Brevet Major General, October 10th, 1783. Nomin- 
ated Commander-in-Chief by Washington, April 13th, 1792. He died 
from an attack of gout at the garrison Presque Isle (Erie), December 6th, 
1796. 



10 LIBERTY PRIMER 

His remains lie in the grave yard of Old St. David's at Radnor, back 
of the Church, where there is a white marble monument, discolored by 
time and exposure, erected to his memory, which was placed there by the 
Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati. 

January 1st, 1808. Importation of Slaves into the United States prohibited. 

January 1st, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation of President Abraham 
Lincoln became operative. It was issued September 22d, 1862. 

' ' This proclamation marks a great epoch in the progress of universal 
freedom. ' ' 

" Our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation, con- 
ceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created 
equal. ' ' 

January 2d, 1788. Georgia ratified the Constitution. 

The Empire State of the South. One of the original thirteen States, 
named in honor of George II. 

January 3d, 1777. The Battle of Princeton, N. J. 

Washington in going from Trenton to Princeton encountered 
three regiments of British, under Colonel Mawhood, who were on their 
way to join Lord Cornwallis. The British were forced to retreat. Wash- 
ington continued on to Princeton, where one regiment had been left, and 
took 300 prisoners, 6 brass field pieces, a quantity of ammunition, and 
several wagons of baggage. The British loss was about 100 killed. The 
American loss is stated at 40 killed, among whom were Brig. -Gen. Hugh 
Mercer, Col. Hazlet, and Captains Shippen and Neal. 

January 3d, 1793. Lucretia Mott born at Nantucket Island, Mass. 

At the age of eleven she went to Boston. In 1817 she was a teacher 
of a small school, and in 1827 became conspicuous for her eloquence in 
Quaker meetings. She associated vrith the Hicksites on the division of 
the Quakers. She made several preaching tours through New England 
and the Middle States advocating peace principles and the abolition of 
Slavery. She was prominent in the organization of the American Anti- 
Slavery Society in 1833, and in 1840 went to England as a delegate to 
the World's Anti-Slavery Convention, but was not admitted to its 
deliberations. Returning to the United States she became interested in 
improving the condition of women, in the woman's suffrage movement and 
in behalf of the Women's Medical College at Philadelphia. She died at 
Philadelphia, November 11th, 1880. 

"The woman apostle of peace, and the inspirer of the first peace 
movement in America." " Truth for authority, not authority for 
truth." 



LIBERTY PKIMER 11 

January 6th, 1811. Charles Sumner born at Boston, Mass. 

Graduated at Harvard 1830, studied law with Judge Story. 
Admitted to the Bar, Editor of the American Jurist, Lecturer at Harvard 
Law School, after which he spent; three years in Europe studying. On 
returning began the practice of law, but soon drifted into politics. In 
1851 he was elected United States Senator from Massachusetts and 
reelected until his death. He died at Washington, March 11th, 1874. 

"Sumner held that the national boundaries of the Union were so 
fixed that no state could escape from them by secession, that a state's 
secession was merely an abandonment of statehood, so that it fell back 
into the condition of a Territory and came under the absolute govern- 
ment of Congress." "His speech entitled 'The True Grandeur of 
Nations, ' was pronounced to be the most noble contribution made by a 
modern writer to the cause of j)eace." " True politics are simply morals 
applied to public affairs. ' ' 

January 7th, 1718. Israel Putnam born at Salem, Mass. 

He had but a moderate education. His family moved to Pomfret, 
Conn., in 1739, where he became a farmer. He in 1755 commanded a 
company from Connecticut and served through the French War. On 
peace being secured he returned to his farm. He was ploughing in the 
field when news was brought of the Battle of Lexington. Without 
changing his clothing he at once started for Camljridge. He came back 
from there, raised a regiment and brought them into camp. With 
Prescott he commanded at Bunker Hill. He was made Major General, 
and he was at Cambridge placed by Washington in command of the 
reserve. In 1776 he was sent to command the fortifications of New 
York, and then sent to fortify Philadelphia. In the winter of 1777 he 
was at Princeton, and in the spring appointed to the command in the 
Highlands, where he remained until 1779, when he was disabled by a 
stroke of i)aralysis. He died at Brookline, Conn., May 19th, 1790. "He 
was brave, energetic, and one of the most efficient officers of the Revo- 
lution." 



January 8th, 1815. The Battle of New Orleans, La. 

Sir Edward Packenham attacked the city of New Orleans with a 
force of British regulars, stated to have been about 10,000. Gen. Jackson, 
with an army of 6,000 volunteers and backwoodsmen, successfully 
defended the city. The British force was dreadfully cut to pieces, their 
loss of killed, wounded and captured amounting to about 2,600, includ- 
ing Gen. Packenham, who was killed. The American loss was 7 killed 
and 6 wounded. (Another account says 8 killed and 14 wounded.) 

" History records no example of so glorious a victory obtained with 
so little bloodshed on the part of the victorious." — James Munroe^s dis- 
patch at the time. 



12 LIBERTY PEIMEE 

January 9th, 1788. Connecticut ratified tfie Constitution. 

Called the Freestone, Nutmeg, or Wooden Nutmeg State. The 
" Land of Steady Habits." One of the original thirteen States. 

January 10th, 1739. Ethan Allen born at Litchfield, Conn. 

He moved to Bennington, Vt., about 1763. New York claimed 
jurisdiction over the Green Mountain Territory and so did New Hamp- 
shire. The King decided in favor of New York. Allen went to Albany 
and plead in favor of the New Hampshire settlers, but the case went 
against them. Allen was made the colonel of the "'Green Mountain 
Boys, " and the New York settlers were driven out. Governor Tryon 
offered £150 for the capture of Allen and £50 for each of the other 
leaders. 

Hearing of the fight at Lexington, and knowing the situation of 
Ticonderoga, he marched for that fort. Benedict Arnold, who had been 
commissioned colonel by Massachusetts, also sought to reach it. Allen 
reached Lake George first. On the 10th of May, 1775, with but 83 men, 
he crossed the lake and reached the fort ; rushing in, he summoned the 
astonished commander to surrender "In the name of the Great Jehovah 
and the Continental Congress." He received the thanks of Congress. 
He was sent to Canada to learn the views of the Canadians, but he j oined 
Montgomery in his expedition against Montreal, and he and his baud were 
paptured on September 25th. He was sent a prisoner to England, ]jut 
soon returned, to be confined in jails and prison ships. He was 
exchanged May 8th, 1778. After the Eevolution he lived in retirement. 

He died at Burlington, Vt., February 13th, 1789. ( At Colchester, 
another account says.) " General Allen possessed strong powers of mind, 
but they never felt the influence of education. He was brave, humane, 
and generous." "As an expression of his patriotism and military talents, 
he was appointed to the command of the State militia. It does not 
appear, however, that his intrepidity was ever again brought to the test, 
though his patriotism was tried by an unsuccessful attempt of the British 
to bribe him to attempt a union of Vermont with Canada." 

January 11th, 1757. Birth of Alexander Hamilton, on the Island of Nevis, 
W. I. 

Killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, dying in New York July 12th, 
1804. 

" He smote the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams 
of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of public credit, 
and it sprang upon its feet." — Webster. 

January 12th, 1729. Edmund Burke born in Ireland. 

His father was a Protestant, his mother was a Catholic. He gradu- 
ated at Trinity College in 1748, and went to London in 1750. He was at 
one time the private secretary of William Gerard Hamilton during his 



LIBERTY PRIMER 13 

term in Ireland as Secretary, and afterwards of the Marquis of Eocking- 
ham when he became Prime Minister. He was elected to the House 
of Commons first from Wendover, then from Bristol and afterwards from 
Malton. In 1794 he retired from Parliament with a pension, stated by 
one writer to have been £1,500, and by another £2,500, which was 
bestowed by government on account of his valuable services. He died 
July 8th, 1797. 

' ' In private life Burke was amiable and benevolent, in public life 
indefatigable, ardent and abhorrent of meanness and injustice. It was 
this latter quality which rendered him a persevering advocate of the 
Irish Catholic. As an orator he ranked among the first of modern 
times ; and as a writer, whether we consider the splendor of his diction, 
the richness and variety of his imagery or the boundless stores of knowl- 
edge which he displayed, it must be acknowledged that there are few his 
equal and none who transcend him. * * * No one ever lived and 
used the general ideas of the thinker more successfully to judge particu- 
lar problems of the statesman. No one has ever come so close to the 
details of practical x^olitics, and at the same time remembered that these 
can only be understood and only dealt with by the aid of the broad con- 
ceptions of political philosophy. And what is more than all for perpetu- 
ity of fame, he was one of the great masters of the high and difficult art 
of elaborate composition." " The most consummate orator of modern 
times, friend of the Thirteen Colonies in their struggle for liberty." 

January 12th, 1737. Birth of John Hancock, at Quincy, Mass. 

Elected in 1766 to the General Assembly of the Province of Massa- 
chusetts, and became the President of that body. 

Elected to Congress, which met at Philadelphia in May, 1775, where 
he succeeded Peyton Randolph as President. He returned home in 
October, 1777. First Governor of Massachusetts, and was annually 
reelected until 1785, when he resigned. In 1787 again elected Governor, 
and he retained the office until his death. 

"There are few lives, either ancient or modern, that afford, of disin- 
terested generosity, more frequent and illustrious examples. * * From 
his private benevolence, a thousand families received their daily bread ; 
and there is perhaps no individual in history, who has expended a more 
ample fortune in promoting the liberties of his country." — Biographia 
Americana. 

He died at Boston, October 8th, 1793. 

January 12th, 1745. Henry Pestalozzi born at Zurich, Switzerland. 

He died February 17th, 1827. 

'' He held that education stood for character as well as for the 
acquirement of knowledge ; Froebel (Friedrich Wilhelm August) founder 
of the Kindergarten was his friend, and Horace Mann the founder of the 
American Common School System, was a disciple of his work." 



14 LIBEETY PRIMER 

January 13th, 1808. Salmon P. Chase born in New Hampshire. 

Graduated at Dartmouth College 1826. Taught school in Washing- 
ton, admitted to the Bar iu 1830. Solicitor at Cincinnati for the United 
States Bank in 1834. He became noted for his opposition to slavery, the 
fugitive slave law, and the acts of 1793 and 1787. In February, 1849 he 
was Senator from Ohio, and in 1855 elected Governor, reelected in 1857. 
On the election of Mr. Lincoln he was appointed Secretary of the Treasury 
which he held until June 30th, 1864. On the death of Eoger B. Taney 
he was appointed Chief Justice of the United States iu October, 1864. 
He was stricken with a paralytic stroke in 1870 from the effects of which 
he never recovered. He died in New York City, May 7th, 1873. 

January 17th, 1706. Birth of Benjamin Franklin, the son of Jonas Franklin, 
a tallow-chandler, and of Abiah Folger, a daughter of Peter Folger, the 
poet, at Boston. 

He died at Philadelphia, April 17th, 1790. 

" At his death, in 1790, he was spoken of by two great French- 
men, Mirabeau and Turgot, as the ' sage whom two worlds claim as 
their own, ' and as having ' snatched the lightning from the skies, and 
the scei)ter from tyrants. ' ' ' 

Franklin's Moral Code : 

Silence. — -Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself ; avoid 
trifling conversation. 

Order. — Let all your things have their places ; let each part of your 
business have its time. 

Eesolution. — Resolve to perform what you ought ; perform with- 
out fail what you resolve. 

Industry. — Lose no time; be always employed in something use- 
ful, but avoid all unnecessary actions. 

Sincerity. — Use no hurtful deceit ; think innocently and justly ; 
and, if you speak, speak accordingly. 

Justice. — "Wrong no one by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits 
that are your duty. 

Moderation. — Avoid extremes ; forbear resenting injuries. 

Tranquillity. — Be not disturbed about trifles, or accidents common 
or unavoidable. 

Humility. — Imitate Jesus Christ. 

Cleanliness. Frugality. Temperance. 

January 17th, 1781. Battle of Cowpens, Spartanburgh County, S. C. 

Lord Cornwallis sent Lieut. -Col. Tariton, with 1,100 men, to drive 
out Morgan, who had been sent by Gen. Green to the western extremity 
of South Carolina. Tariton had two field pieces and a superior force of 
both infantry and cavalry. On the 16th he arrived on the ground that 
Morgan had left a few hours before. At 2 a.m. he resumed his march, 
and by daylight he saw the detachments of Morgan in front. Morgan 



l.IUERTY PRIMER 15 

waiteJ for him in a wood free from uadergrowth. Tarltou led the 
attack himself The American militia received the attack with lirmuess, 
but were compelled to fall back in the rear of their second line, and this 
line in their turn, after an obstinate conflict, was compelled to retreat to 
the cavalry. At this juncture Lieut. -Col. Washington made a successful 
charge on Capt. Ogilvie, who, with forty dragoons, was cutting down the 
retreating militia. Lieut. -Col. Howard, almost at the same moment, 
rallied the Continental troops and charged with fixed bayonets, the 
militia following his example. These unexpected charges threw the 
British into confus'.ou, and they were driven from the ground, giving the 
Americans a complete victory. Tarlton fled, leaving his baggage and 
artillery in the hands of the victors, and losing 300 killed and wounded 
and 500 prisoners, while the American loss was but 12 killed and wounded. 
"Seldom has a victory, achieved by so small a number, been so 
important in its consequences. It deprived Cornwallis of one-fifth of his 
force, and disconcerted his plans for the reduction of North Carolina." — 
John Howard Ilinton. 

Jjnj::r/ nth, 1852. The Sand River Convention signed. 

The Cape Colony Boers from 1833 to 1837 commenced an exodus 
which was known as the "Great Trek." In 1836 some thousands had 
crossed the Vaal, and reached the "Trans Vaal " country beyond, 
which at that time was under the sway of Moselkatze, a Zulu refugee. 
Some of the emigrants were massacred,, and the Boers uuder Maritz and 
Potgieter attacked and defeated Moselkatze at Mosega in 1837. The 
Zulu chief the next year withdrew and founded the Matable State, 
between the Vaal and the Zambezi, leaving the region between the Vaal 
and the Limpopo virtually in the hands of the Teckkers. On the east 
the Boers were attacked by Dingaan, and a division of emigrants who 
had crossed the Buffiilo uuder Peter Retief were massacred in 1833. The 
Teckkers were however saved by Andries Pretorious of Graaff Reinet 
who checked Dingaan towards the close of 1838 and followed by a 
crushing defeat in 1840. The British occupation of the Territory in 
1843, induced the Boers to retire in two bands across the Drakenberg, 
the southern division settling in the present Orange Free State, and the 
northern passing into the Transvaal. Pretorious and Potgieter could not 
agree in the establishment of a government, and the Transvaal was a 
failure until Pretorious induced the British Government to sign the 
Convention at Sand River, which virtually secured the independence of 
that region. Pretorious and Potgieter both died in 1853, and Marthinus 
Wersels Pretorious eldest son of Pretorious was made the first President 
of the Dutch African Republic whose title was in 1858 altered to South. 
African Republic. 

January 18th, 1736. Rev. Phillips Payson, D.D., born at Walpole, Mass. 

He commanded a party of militia and attacked the British who were 
removing and taking away stores and provisions at Monotomy, recaptured 



16 LIBERTY PRIMER 

the stores aud disarmed the troops without loss. This action was on 
April 19th, 1775, aud was iu fact a part of the battle of Lexington. 

"During the struggle fjr liberty Dr. Payson boldly advocated the 
cause of his country. As a classical scholar, he rose to distinction, and 
many young men received the rudiments of their education from him. 
As a minister, he was a friend and lather to his people, and he preached 
wdth energy of diction, and pathos of delivery." 

January 20th, 1726. Col. William Prescott born at Groton, Mass. 

He served with sach honor and distinction in the French and Indian 
"Wars that he was tendered a commission in the British army, which he 
declined, but iu 1774, when it became apparent that hostilities would 
take place, he was put in command of a regiment of minute men. In 
June, 1775, he went to Charlestown and fortified Bunker Hill, but during 
the night he changed his position to Breed's Hill, which he also fortified, 
having under him a brigade of perhaps a thousand strong. Warren and 
Putnam both rejiorted for service ; both of these men outranked Prescott. 
"Warren refused to take command, and upon Prescott appears to have 
rested the responsibility. On June 17th General Gage, with 2,000 
regulars, attacked the position. The Americans waited until the British 
were close upon the breastworks before delivering their fire ; when they 
did, the British recoiled in confusion, a second attempt had a like result, 
and a third was made. By this time the ammunition of the Americans 
was gone, they had liut one volley, and when this was gone, the regulars 
swarmed over the breastworks to meet a hand to hand encounter, and 
the Americans fled down the hill and across the Neck to Cambridge, the 
English ships raking them with grape-shot as they ran. Prescott was 
the very last to leave the hill, and he wished to undertake its recapture, 
saying that he could do so if reinforced. This action proved that the 
Colonists were able to cope with the best that England could send against 
them. Though defeated the Americans were victorious. 

Prescott remained with the army for about two years when he 
resigned, but he joined as a volunteer and was present at Saratoga in 
1777, after which he returned home. He served in the Massachusetts 
I^egislature for several years. He died at Pepperell, Mass., October 
13th, 1795. 

January 20th, 1732. Birth of Richard Henry Lee. in Westmoreland 
County, Va. 
He is said to have originated, in 1773, the plan for an inter-colonial 
or Continental Congress, which was carried into elfect the next year. On 
June 7th, 1776, upon the instructions of the House of Burgesses of 
Virginia, he introduced into Congress the resolutions declaring "that 
the united Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent 
States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British crown, 
and that all political connection between them and the State of Great 
Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." 



LIBERTY PKIMER 17 

[Note. — This resolution originated in the Virginia Convention that 
met at Willianisburgh, and was reported to that body by Archibald Gary 
May loth, 1776.) 

He died at Chantilly. "Westmoreland County, Va., June U)th, 1794. 

" He died as he lived, a blessing to his countrv." 



January 20th, 1734. Birth of Robert Morris, at Manchester or at Liverpool, 
England. (Both places are given. ) 

He came to America with his father at the age of 13, and at the 
age of 15 began a regular apprenticeship in the counting-room of Charles 
Willing, of Philadelphia. 

Appointed to the Second Congress by Pennsylvania. 1775, reelected 
in 1776, 1777 and 1778. 

Appoiuted by Congress "Superintendent of Finances" in 1781. 
Kesigned September 30th, 1784. 

Member of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. 

Died at Philadelphia, May 8th, 1806. 

" No man had more numerous concerns committed to his charge, and 
few to a greater amount ; and never did any one more faithfully dis- 
charge the various complicated trusts with greater dispatch. " — Biofjraph in 
Americana. 



January 26th, 1837. Michigan admitted to the Union. 

The thirteenth State admitted. The " Wolverine State." The Lake 
State. Originally part of the Northwest Territory, then of Indiana 
Territory, from which Michigan Territory was constituted in 1805. 



January 29th, 1761. Albert Gallatin born at Geneva, Switzerland. 

He was lelt an orphan when nine yeai's old, he had a thorough 
education, graduating in 1779. He emigrated to the United States in 
1780, and commenced business in New England, but his concern failed, 
and he entered Harvard as a teacher of the French language. After this 
he went to Virginia and then to Pennsylvania. In 1 793, he was elected 
to the United States Senate but the election was annulled on account of 
his defective citizenship. He took an active part in the Whiskey 
Rebellion. In 1795, he was elected to Congress and held his seat for five 
years until 1801 when he became Secretary of the Treasury under 
Jefferson. This office he held for twelve years. In 1812, he became 
Commissioner to Europe, and in 1816 was made Minister to France, 
remaining in office until he was transferred to the Court of St. James Ln 
1826. He returned to the United States in 1828. He died at New 
York, August 12th, 1848. 

He said "a man who has had the direction of the tinances of his 
country as long as I have should not die rich." 



18 LIBERTY PRIMER 

January 29th. 1861. Kansas admitted to the Union. 

The twenty-tirst State admitted. The Garden of the West. The 
Garden State. Named from the Kansas river, (Indian "Smoky water. ") 

Part of the Louisiana purchase, except the southwestern portion, 
which was ceded by Texas in 1850. It formed a part of Missouri Terri- 
tory until 1821, after which it remained unorganized until 1854, when 
the Kansas-Nebraska Bill created the Territory of Kansas, including 
what is now a part of Colorado. 

January 31st, 1713. Anthony Benezet born at St. Quentins, France. 

His family were Huguenots, became Quakers and settled in Phila- 
delphia. He became a teacher, and continued in a similar occupation 
all his life. During the last two years of his life, his zeal" to do good 
induced him to resign the school which he had long superintended, and 
to engage in the education of colored people. So great was his sympathy 
with every being capable of feeling pain, that he resolved toward the 
close of his life to eat no animal food. He employed his pen both night 
and day in writing religious and philanthropic works. His publications 
contributed largely towards the prohibition of the African Slave Trade. 
At his funeral many hundred negroes followed him to the gi-ave in tears. 

He said ' ' The highest act of charity in the world is to bear with the 

unreasonableness of mankind. " "Few men, " says Benjamin Rush, "since 

^ the days of the apostles, lived a more disinterested life. And yet upon 

his death bed, he said he wished to live a little longer, that 'he might 

bring down self. ' ' ' 

February 3d, 1811. Horace Greeley born at Amherst, N. H. 

Apprenticed at the age of fourteen to the publishers of Northern 
S])ectator, Poultney, Vt. The paper failed in 1830. 

After working at Erie for a while, he went to New York in 1831, 
with all his belongings tied up in a handkerchief Here he worked in a 
newspaper ofl&ce. With Jonas Winchester he started a printing office in 
1833, and in 1834 began the New Yorker, which it was said was a "liter- 
ary success but a financial failure." During 1838-39 he was at Albany, 
where he edited a campaign paper for William H. Seward and Thurlow 
Weed, called The Jefersonian, and also on his own account TJie Log Cabin, 
which was successful. The New York Tribune began April 10th, 1841, 
with H. J. Raymond as chief assistant until 1843. In 1848 Mr. Greeley 
was elected to Congress ; 1867, Delegate at Large to State Constitutional 
Convention. He signed the bond as one of Jefferson Davis's bail. In 
1872 he was nominated for the presidency, receiving 2,834,079 votes 
against 3,597,070 for U. S. Grant. 

He died at Pleasantville, Westchester County, N. Y., November 
29th, 1872. 

" The very imperfections of Greeley's early studies had a compensa- 
tion iu the fact that they left him in all the tendencies and habits of his 
mind an American. No foreign mixture of thought or tradition went into 



LIBERTY PRIJIER 19 

the composition oi his strong intelligence. Of all great mer. who have 
"beccme renowned on this side of the Atlantic, he was the most purely 
and entirely the product of the country and it 3 institutions. Accordingly , 
a sturdy reliance on his own conclusions and a readiness to defy the world 
in their behalf, were among his most strongly marked characteristics." — 
C. A. Dana. 

February 5th, 1631. Roger Williams arr-ved at Boston. 

He was born of either Welsh or Cornish parents, about the year 159!), 
but there appears to be no record either of his birth or of his death. He 
was said to have been 84 years old when he died. He was educated at 
an English University, and after arriving at Boston was made pastor of a 
church at Salem. On account of his views he was banished from Massa- 
chus3tts. With five companions he fled, and on March 24th, 1635, he 
landed at a place which, in token to his gratitude to God, he called 
Providence. Subsequently he got from the Indians a deed of the sur- 
rounding land, which from an apparent, resemblance to Rhodes, he named 
Ehode Island. 

"Roger Williams was the teacher of Liberty of Conscience, a prin- 
ciple which has found a place in the constitutions of most civilized 
nations and all republics." 

February 6tb, 1778. The Treaty with France. 

A treaty of alliance, amity and commerce, was signed at Paris by 
the French ministry, and by the American Commissioners, Dr. Franklin, 
Mr Deane and Mr. Lee. The news of this event gave great joy in 
America. By this treaty France acknowledged the independence of the 
United States. 

At the celebration of the first anniversary of this event by Congress 
at Philadelphia, the following toasts were drank : 

1. May the alliance between France and the United States be per- 

petual. 

2. The United States. 

3. His Most Christian Majesty. 

4. The Queen of France. 

5. His Most Catholic Majesty. 

6. The Princes of the House of Bourbon. 

7. Success to our allied armies. 

8. General Washington and the Army. 

9. The friends of Liberty in every part of the AVorld . 

10. May the new constellation rise to the zenith. 

1 1. May the American Stripes bring Great Britain to reason. 

12. The memory of patriots who have nobly fallen in defence of 

Lilierty and Independence in America. 

13. A safe and honorable peace. 

This was the first treaty made by the United States with any foreign 
power. 



20 LIBERTY PRIMER 

February 8th, 1788. Massachus§tis, the sixth State to ratify the Constitution. 

The Old Colony. The Bay State. The Old Bay State. One of the 
original thirteen States. 

The Pilgrim Fathers landed from the Mayflower at Plymouth, 
December 21st, 1620. The Massachusetts Colony was planted at Salem and 
Charlestown in 1628, and at Boston in 1630. A new charter, uniting 
Plymouth and Massachusetts, was granted in 1692. Massachusetts led 
in active opposition to the Stamp Act. The Boston Massacre occurred 
March 8th, 1770. The Boston "Tea Party," December 16th, 1773. 
The Revolution began at Lexington, April 19th, 1775, and on June 17th 
the Americans, under Prescott and Putnam, though technically beaten, 
gained a decided advantage over the British. 

February 11th, 1735. Daniel Boone born in Bucl<s County, Penn. 

About 1748 the family removed to Holman's Ford, on the Yadkin, 
S. C. He was a natural hunter, fully equal to the Indian in tracing a scent. 
With a party of six he set out to explore what is now known as Ken- 
tucky, on May 1st, 1769. He was captured by the Indians ; twice he 
escaped. In March, 1771, he returned home. In 1773, with five other 
famiiies and his own, he started for Kentucky. He was joined by about 
forty men, but the party was attacked by Indians and forced to return to 
Clinch Eiver. Lord Dunsmore appointed him to the command of a garri- 
.son to resist hostile Indians. He erected a fort at Boonesborough, where he 
settled with his family, which was then ' ' Salt Spring. ' ' Here he sustained 
several sieges, and was once taken prisoner while hunting with his men. 
In 1777 he made an expedition to the Blue Licks, and being captured 
\vas taken to Detroit. His men were given to the British commander, 
but he was retained and adopted by Blackfish, the Shawnee chief. 
Learning that the Indians were planning to attack Boonesborough, he 
determined to warn his comrades. Chased by 450 Indians, he arrived 
after a four days' journey of 160 miles, having had but one meal. He 
then repulsed the Indian attack. 

He was tried by court martial for surrendering, but acquitted and 
promoted to be Major. 1778 he became Lieutenant Colonel in charge of 
Lincoln County, one of three divisions of Kentucky. August 19th, 1782, 
he fought a battle with the Indians at Blue Licks, where one of his sons 
was killed. In 1790 he moved to Point Pleasant on the Kanawha, in 
West Virginia. Here he had a large sum of money stolen from him. 

Kentucky was admitted to the Union February 4th, 1791, and sur- 
veyed. His title to lands was contested, and the case went against him. 

In 1795 he moved to the Femme Osage District of Missouri, then in 
the possession of the Spanish. He was here made commandant, and 
obtained a grant of 8,000 acres of land. 

He died at Charette, Mo., September 26th, 1820. 

"He expired while on his knees taking aim at some object, and he 
was lonnd in that position, with his gun resting on the trunk of a tree. 



LIBERTY PBIMEK 21 

The charm of a hunter's life hung around him, and in his eighty-second 
year he went on an expedition in search of the Kansas River. 

February 12th, 1809. Abraham Lincoln born in Hardin County, Kentucky 

Elected the sixteenth President of the United States, November 6th. 
1860. Reelected November 8th, 1864. Shot at Ford's Theatre, Wash- 
ington, and died April 14th, 1865. 

" With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in 
the right as God gives us to see the right, let us finish the work we are 
in, and bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne 
the battle, and for his widow and his orphans, to do all which may 
achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all 
nations. ' ' — Iiia ugural A ddress. 

February 13th, 1890. The Oklahoma Bill passed by the United States Senate. 
'' No-Man's-Laud " included in the Territory. The bill jiassed the 
House of Representatives March 13th, 1890. The Territory was opened 
for settlement April 22d, 1889. 

February 14th, 1859. Oregon the twentieth State admitted to the Union. 

The early Spanish explorers found the wild thyme, and on account 
of the herb named the country "Oregon." The Greek navigator, De- 
Fuca, discovered the coast in 1592, and the Spanish Admiral Fonte in 
1640. Spain for a long time claimed it, but ceded the right to England 
in 1790. In 1792 Captain Robert Gray, of Boston, (who was the first to 
carry the American flag around the world, ) explored the great river, which 
he named after his vessel, "The Columbia." This gave to the United 
States color to an original claim to the valley of that river. France held 
a shadowy title to all the continent west of the Mississippi, north of the 
Spanish possessions, under the name of Louisiana. This the United 
States acquired, by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. Captain Gray's 
report was made the basis of an exploring expedition in 1806, under Cap- 
tains Clark and Lewis. In 1811 the American Pacific Fur Company, of 
which John Jacob Astor was a director, established a trading post at the 
mouth of the Columbia, which was called Astoria. During the War of 
1812, the Northwest Fur Company (afterwards Hudson's Bay Company) 
purchased the property. Their employees planted a garden at Astoria, 
and renamed it Fort George. In 1810 Captain Winship, a New Eng- 
lander, built the first house on the Columbia river. The Revs. Marcus 
Whitman and Henry N. Spalding led a missionary party to Oregon, 
arriving at Walla Walla September 2d, 1836. Whitman realized the 
value of the country and saw the evident design of the Hudson Bay Com- 
pany to obtain it for English occupation. Fearing it might be lost he 
started for Washington across the plains, " to save Oregon to the United 
States," leaving Walla Walla in October, 1842, and in the depth of one 
of the most evere winters riding the long journey. He reached Fort 



22 LIBERTY PRIMER 

Bent, on the Arkansas river, January 7th, 1843, and then went on to St. 
Louis and to Washington, where he found the government on the verge 
of transferring the district to Great Britain as a useless waste. He pro- 
cured a stay and in September he led a party of two hundred wagons and 
over one thousand souls as permanent settlers. A provisional govern- 
ment was organized in 1843, and a Territorial Constitution adopted in 
1845. A treaty with Great Britain fixed the boundary in 1846. 

Congress organized the Territory of Oregon on August 14th, 1848, 
and on March 3d, 1849 Joseph Lane, the first Territorial Governor, was 
inaugurated. 

February 15th, 1564. Galileo Galilei born. 

One of the earliest and greatest of the experimental philosophers, was 
bom at Pisa, Italy. He was imprisoned by the Inquisition because he 
asserted that the world moved around the sun. He died at Florence, 
January 8th, 1642. 

February 17th, 1815. The Treaty of Ghent, closing the War of 1812-14. 

The Treaty was signed at Ghent on Saturday, December 24th, 1814, 
and ratified by the Prince Kegent of England Thursday, December 27th, 
1814. Eatifications were exchanged at Washington on February 17th, 
and the Treaty proclaimed on February 18th, 1815. 

" It is important to the United States to make peace, but it is more 
important to them to preserve their rights as an independent nation, which 
will in no event be surrendered." — From Instructions to the Commissioners- 
February 22d, 1732. George Washington, Father of His Country, born in 
Westmoreland County, Virginia. 

He died after a few hours' illness, December 14th, 1799. 

In the family Bible of the Washingtons, in his mother's handwrit- 
ing, is the following : " George Washington, son of Augustus and Mary, 
his wife, was born ye 11th day of February, 1732, about 10 in the morn- 
ing, and was baptized the 3d April following, Mr. Beverly Whiting and 
Christopher Brooks, Godfathers, and Mrs. Mildred Gregory, Godmother." 
(At that time the year began on the 25th of March. In 1750, by an act 
of Parliament, it was changed to January 1st. The day following the 
2d of September, 1752, was reckoned the 14th, omitting 11 days. The 
11th of February, 1732, O. S., therefore is equivalent to February 22d, 
1732.) 

' ' The entire progress of the civilized world for more than a century 
has been shaped by the influence of his life and precepts." 

February 22d, 1821. Florida ceded to the United States by Spain. 

Ponce de Leon, in search of the "Fountain of Yowth," landed in 
Florida on March 27th, 1513. 



LIBERTY I'RIMEK 23 

President Madisou, under anthority of the Louisiana ijurchase, by 
proclamation took possession of West Florida in the name of the United 
States October 27th, 1810. On January 3d, 1811, Congress authorized 
the occupation of East Florida. After a long correspondence, a treaty 
respecting Florida was made, which is known as the Treaty of 1819. By 
this Treaty the United States agreed to satisfy claims of citizens to the 
extent of $5,000,000. On February 13th the President communicated 
the ratiiication to the Senate, and the final exchange of ratification took 
place at "Washington February 22d, 1821. 

February 23d, 1854. The Orange Free State, South Africa. 

The Orange River Sovereignty in South Africa adjoined the British 
Cape Colony and comprised about 70,000 square miles, divided into four 
districts. The executive government was in the hands of a British Resi- 
dent, who presided over a legislative council, composed of resident mag- 
istrates and sundry representatives. On February 23d, 1854, Sir George 
Clark, on behalf of the British government, made over the sovereignty to 
a convention composed of delegates. A republican form of government 
was adoi^ted, the Volkhssana was created, and J. T. Hoffman made the 
first President of the Orange Free State. 

February 24th, 1863. The Territory of Arizona organized. 

It was originally part of the Mexican cession and the Gadsden jjur- 
c-hase. It was separated from New Mexico in 18()3. 

February 24th, 1821. Mexican Independence. 

The long smouldering discontent broke out in open revolt on Sep- 
tember 16th, 1810, at Guarrajuato, under the leadership of Don Miguel 
Hidalgo, who was a priest. He had, it is said, at one time a force of 
100,000 men, principally natives. On January 17th, 1811, he was 
attacked and defeated by the Spanish and, on July 30th following, 
executed at Chihuahua. Morelos, also a priest, continued the struggle. 
He raised a force against the Spanish in January, 1812, and in October, 
1813, assembled a National Assembly at Chilpanzinco, where a declara- 
tion of independence was signed ; but Morelos was defeated before Val- 
ladolid by Iturbide, December 24th, 1813, and in 1815 shared the same 
fate as Hidalgo. A guerilla war followed until 1820, when Iturbide, 
now "Liberator," led tlie people, and under whom independence was 
again declared and signed. The same year the capitol was surrendered 
by O'Donoju, the last of the Viceroys. On May 19th, 1822, Iturbide 
became Emperor, and independence was universally acknowledged. 

February 24th, 1891. The Brazilian Constitution, 

The Brazilian Assembly adopt a Constitution. Dom Pedro was 
deposed and the Republic proclaimed November 15th, 1889, the Empire 
being converted into a Confederation composed of twenty States. A con- 



24 LIBERTY PKIMEK 

stitution, subject to ratification, was adopted June 22d, 1890, and a 
Cono-ress elected under it on September 15th. This constitution was, 
with some changes, ratified February 24 tb, 1891, and Marechal Deodoro 
da Fonseca elected President, and General Floriano Peixoto Vice-Presi- 
dent, who were inaugurated on the following day. 

February 25th, 1746. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney born at Charleston, S. C. 

Graduated at Oxford in England, then studied law, after which he 
remained for a short time at the military school at Caen, in France. 
Eeturning to America he began the practice of law at Charleston and 
became prominent in politics. He was a member of the first Provincial 
Congress of South Carolina, and in 1775 became the colonel of a provin- 
cial regiment. He was at the capture of Fort Johnson, and the repulse 
of the British Squadron oif Fort Moultrie. He was then aid-de-camp to 
Washington, and in this capacity was at Brandy wine and German town. 
On the approach of Clinton to Charleston, he took command of Fort 
Moultrie, which he defended with skill and great bravery. When 
Charleston was reduced he was taken prisoner and detained the remainder 
of the war. On returning home he resumed practice. He was a mem- 
ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and afterwards of the 
South Carolina Convention of 1790. 

In 1796 he was sent as Minister to France, where he was received 
.with such discourtesy that he left the country, returning however wdth 
Elbridge Gerry and John Marshall as joint commissioners. Talleyrand 
assured the commissioners that a gift of money would be necessary, and 
that in case of its refusal it would bring on war. Pinckney is reported 
to have replied, ' ' War be it, then, millions for defence, sir, but not one 
cent for tribute. " This saying aroused the whole country from Maine 
to Georgia, and on his return there appeared to be grave fears of a war 
with France. He was made a Major-General in 1800. He was with 
John Adams Federalist candidate for the presidency of the United States. 
He died at Charleston, S. C, August 16th, 1825. 

February 25th, 1778. General Jose de San Martin born at Yapeyu, on the 
Uruguay River. 

He entered the Spanish military service. He returned home with 
the rank of Captain, and from the Revolutionary government of Buenos 
Ayres was placed in command of a division with the rank of Colonel. 
He had success at San Lorenzo in 1813. 

He planned with the brothers O'Higgins the liberation of Cliili, and 
gaineii a victory at Chacabuco February 12th, 1817, with a final decisive 
triumph at Maypu, April 5th, 1818. 

Plans were then matured for liberating Peru. The army sailed from 
Valparaiso August 20th, 1820, supported by a squadron under Lord Coch- 
rane. San Martin was declared "Protector of Peru," August .3d, 182L 
He died at Boulogne in France, August 17th, 1850. 



LIBERTY I-iilMEIi 25 

The motto of San Martin was " Seras lo que debesser." "Thou 
must be what thou oughtest to 15e. ' ' 

He was the real father of South American Republicanism ; he was a 
true man, a Washington. 

February 26th, 1802. Victor Hugo born at Bascanon, France. 

He is generally known as a great writer, but perhaps he was one of 
the most ardent republicans that France has ever produced. He was the 
' ' idol of the Paris and French people and retained his health until within 
a few days of his death, which occurred May 22d, 1885, at Paris." "No 
French writer succeeded so well in so many lines of art, and no French- 
man ever attained such unbounded popularity during life, or was followed 
to the grave by such a concourse of mourners." 

February 27th, 1844. The Dominican Republic. 

The most remarkable events and notable heroes of the Dominican 
Republic : 

" February 27th, 1844, National Independence, God, Countrj', 
Liberty. 

"Juan Pablo Duaxte, founder of Dominican Nationality, born Janu- 
ary 26th, 1813 ; died July 15th, 1876. 

" Francisco del R. Sanchez, hero of the Independence of February 
27th, 1844 ; born in 1816 ; shot on 4th of July, 1881, while defending 
the integrity of the country, which had been sold to the Spanish govern- 
ment on the 18th of March, 1861. 

" Juan Yridro Perez, propagator of the idea of independence ; (>orn 
in 1818 ; died insane, 1868. 

'' Romon Mella, hero of the 27th of February, 1844 ; ))orn in 1816, 
25th of February ; died in 1864. 

" Pedro Piua, a worthy collaborator of Duarte, born in 1821 ; died in 
1870. 

"August 16th, 1863, Independence and restoration of Dominican 
nationality against the Spaniards." — From the Supreme Council of SSd^ of 
tlie Dominican Rejmblic, bij Eugenie de 3Iarciicna, Gr. Sec'i; Gen. 

February, 1790. The United States Supreme Court sat for the hrst time. 

The following are the Chief Justices : 

John Jay, of New York, appointed by Washington, September 26th, 
1789. 

Oliver Ellsworth, ot Connecticut, appointed Ity Wasliington, March 
4th, 1796. 

John Marshall, of Virginia, appointed by .Tolm Adams, January 
31st, 1801. 

Roger K. Taney, of Maryland, aj)pointe(l by Jackson, March 15th, 
1836. 



2G LIBERTY PRIMER 

Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, appointed by Lincoln, December 6th, 1S64. 
Morrison B. AVaite. of Ohio, appointed by Grant, Jane 21st, 1874. 
Mellville W. Fuller, of Illinois, appointed by Cleveland, 188S. 



March 1st 1845. The State of Texas. 

Lone Star State. Settled by the French, who were driven out by 
the Spanish In 1690. 

The Louisiana purchase was made May 2d, 1803, after which large 
numbers of citizens from the United States emigrated to Texas. 

Mexico declared its independence February 24th, 1821, when Texas 
and Coahuila were created as a State. 

In 1827-1829 overtures were made by the United States to purchase 
Texas, and various offers were made, ranging from ^1,000,000 to 
$5,000,000. 

In 1830 Mexico established a military government in Texas, which 
was followed in 1833 by a declaration of Independence by the Texans, 
and war, which was finally terminated in the defeat of Santa Anna at 
San Jacinto, April 21st, 1836. 

In April, 1844, John C. Calhoun, Secretary of State, concluded a 
treaty of annexation, including all the territory between the Nueces and 
the Eio Grande. This treaty was rejected by the Senate June 8th, 1844. 

On the 1st of March, 1845, after the election of President Polk, the 
President was authorized by Congress to negotiate a treaty of annexation, 
and a special messenger was dispatched to Texas. On June 18th the 
Texan Congress voted for annexation, and the people ratified it by a pop- 
ular vote on July 4th, 1845. 

A resolution to admit Texas to the American Union passed the House 
of Representatives by a vote of 141 to 56, December 16th. This was con- 
curred in by the Senate, by a vote of 31 to 13, December 22d, and on 
December 29th, 1845, Texas was declared to be one of the United States. 



March 1st, 1867. Nebraska admitted to the Union. 

The name is Indian and signifies "Shallow Water." Nebraska is 
the twenty-fourth State. Originally a part of the Louisiana purchase. 
It was first traversed by the expedition under Lewis and Clark in 1805, 
and it was partially exi^lored by Fremont in 1842, but it had no perma- 
nent settlers until the Pacific Railroad was built. In the winter of 1854 
Stephen A. Douglas, amid much political excitement, succeeded in having 
Congress pass what is known as the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, by the pro- 
visions of which Nebraska became organized as a Territory. It included 
the northeast poi'tion of Colorado, a part of Dakota, Montana and Wyo- 
ming. Its present limits were defined by Act of Congress, April 19, 
1864. By proclamation of the President, Nebraska was declared a 
member of the Union on March 1st, 1867. 



LIBEETY PRIMEE 27 

March 2d, 1793. General Sam Houston born near Lexington, Va. 

In early life he wandered to Tennessee and lived among the Cherokee 
Indians. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, an Indian Agent, lawyer, 
district attorney, and Major-General of the militia. 

In 1823 he was elected to Congress, and reelected in 1825. 

In 1827 he was chosen Governor of Tennessee by a majority of 
12,000. 

In 1833 he moved to Texas and in 1835 was Commander-in-Chief of 
the Texan army. 

On April 21st, 1836, he secured the independence of Texas by a 
decisive victory at San Jacinto, defeating and making Santa Anna a 
prisoner. 

On October 22d, 1836, he was inaugurated President of Texas, and 
on December 13th, 1841, he entered upon his second term. 

Texas became a member of the American Union on December 29th, 
1845, when he was made United States Senator, and reelected in 1852. 

Elected Governor of Texas in 1859, holding the ofiice until the ordi- 
nance of secession was adopted, when he resigned. 

He died at Huntersville, Texas, July 25th, 1863. 

" He resisted secession from its inception, and it is an interesting 
incident in his life, and in the history of his country, that of his riding 
close beside the carriage in which sat Lincoln and Buchanan on the day 
of the inauguration of the former, guarding the President-elect from the 
possibility of assassination — which was even then threatened, as it was 
afterwards consummated. The picture of this stalwart old man, nearly 
three score and ten, armed and watchful, guarding the person of Abraham 
Lincoln, is one that deserves to be perpetuated iu American history." 

" The hero of San Jacinto was above all things, an able soldier, 
wary, intrepid, and resolute ; but he possessed as a legislator the quali- 
ties of rare foresight, cool determination, and fearless candor. ' ' 

March 2d, 1867. Department of Education Established. 

Educators, political economists aud statesmen felt the need of some 
central agency by which the general educational statistics of the country 
could be collected, preserved, condensed, and properly arranged for dis- 
tribution. This need found expression finally iu the action taken by the 
National Educational Association in convention at Washington in Feb- 
ruary, 1866. From this convention a memorial was jiresented to Congress 
asking for the creation of a Bureau of Education. The memorial was 
presented to the House of Eepresentatives by General Gartield February 
14th, 1866, with a bill for the establishment of a national bureau. The 
bill was amended providing for a Department of Education in place of 
Bureau, and thus altered it passed. The Senate passed it without altera- 
tion March 1st, 1867, and the President signed it on the following day. 
On July 28th, 1868, an act was passed which took effect June 30th, 1869, 
which abolished the Department of Education and established the office 
of Commissioner of Education in the Department of the Interior. 



2R LIBERTY PRIMER 

March 3d, 1845. Florida admitted to the Union. The Peninsular State. 

East and West Florida were joined in the Territory of Florida in 
1822, having been acquired by purchase from Spain by the Treaty of 
1819. A long and expensive war was necessary with the Seminole 
Indians in order to secure Florida, which lasted until 1842. 

March 3d, 1862. Serfdom in Russia abolished. 

The rural population of Russia consisted : 1, Serfs ; 2, Free agricul- 
tural laborers ; 3, Peasants, who are small farmers or cottiers, and mem- 
bers of the commune. The causes of slavery or serfdom were : 1, Cap- 
ture 'in war ; 2, The sale of poor freemen by themselves ; 3, The sale of 
insolvent debtors, and of certain criminals. 

After the Crimean War the Tzar Alexander II. created a secret com- 
mittee to study the subject of the emancipation of the serfs. The Lithu- 
anian nobles at this time expressed a desire that the relations between 
the serfs and their masters should be revised. A circular was prepared 
and transmitted to all the governors and marshals throughout the empire 
where there were serfs, informing them of the expressed wish of the 
Lithuanians. In 1858 a committee was created in nearly every province, 
and from the schemes prepared by these committees a general plan was 
developed, to carry out which the government appointed a Special Impe- 
rial. Commission. There was opposition on the part of some of the 
nobility, but the plans were matured and liecame law, and by it serfdom 
in Russia was abolished, (February 19th-March 2d, 1861,) by which it is 
said 32,000,000 men became free. 

March 4th, 1789. Commencement of the New Government. 

Notwithstanding the opposition made to it, the Federal Constitution 
soon obtained the assent of all the States save two — Rhode Island and 
North Carolina. New York is said to have acceded chiefly from fear of 
being excluded from the Union ; and, in consenting, she had demanded 
a new convention to make amendments in the act. Even Virginia 
thought it necessary to propose alterations. She required a declaration 
of rights, and the limitation that the President should be but once re- 
elected. The discussion concerning these points of difference occupied 
the year 1788, after which the Constitution was generally accepted, and 
the grand point of federal union achieved. 

The 4th of March, 1789, was the time appointed for the commence- 
ment of the new government. So wanting, however, were many of the 
States, or their representatives, in zeal, that three weeks elapsed before a 
full meeting of both houses could be procured. At length the votes for 
President and Vice-President were opened and counted in the Senate, 
when it was found that George Washington was unanimously elected 
President, and John Adams, having the second number of votes, was 
elected Vice-President. — FrosVs Hidory of United States. 



I>IBEKTY PRIMER 29 

March 4th, 1791. Vermont admitted to the Union. 

The Green Mountain State. The first State admitted to the Union. 

Originally settled by colonists from Massachusetts, 1732. The terri- 
tory was claimed both by New Hampshire and by New York. In 1777, 
a convention was held which declared it independent of both. The 
claims of New York were settled by the payment of .$30,000 in 1790. By 
an act of Congress, to take effect March 4th, 1791, Vermont was admitted 
to the American Union as a State. 

March 13th, 1775. First Bloodshed of the Revolution, East Westminster, Vt. 
In 1774-75 the Whigs and Tories were about equally divided, the 
j udges and the juries being appointed by the king. The British authori- 
ties attempted to hold court in the court-house, then standing about forty 
rods north of the cemetery. The colonists were bound that no court 
should be held, so they armed themselves and drove the court from the 
court-house. In return the Britisli troops attacked the colonists and a 
nran named William French fell dead from the fire of the soldiers, and 
Daniel Houghton was mortally wounded. In 1872 the State of Vermont 
appropriated $600 for a monument, which stands about six feet from the 
place where French was buried. A small slab stands to mark the exact 
spot, and on it is the following inscription : 

In memory of William French 

Son of Nathaniel French 

Who was shot at Westminster 

March ye 13th 1775, 

by the hands of Cruel Ministerial tools of George ye 

3rd 

In the Courthouse at 11 a clock at Night 

In the 2'2nd year of his age 

Here William French his body lies. 

For murder his blood for Vengeance cries. 

— From an old newspaper scrap. 

March 15th, 1820. Maine admitted to the Union as the tenth State. 

The Pine Tree State. The Lumber State. 

In 1623 Sir Ferdinand Gorges, John Mason and some others, having 
obtained a patent from the Plymouth Company, sent a few persons from 
England to begin a settlement. In 1630 thirty-five persons in the town 
of Exeter established a civil government. In 1653 IVIassachusetcs pur- 
chased from the heirs of Gorges all their claims for $5,334, and it was 
annexed to Massachusetts under a charter from William and Mary, in 

1691. 

In 1819 the Legislature submitted to the people the question of sepa- 
ration, which was decided by a large majority. The act of Congress of 
March 3d, to take effect March 15th, 1820, admitted Maine as a member 
of the American Union. 



30 LIBERTY PRIMER 

March 21st, 1806. Benito Pablo Juarez born at Ixtlan, Oajaca, Mexico. 

He was of fall Tndiau blood. He had a good education, studied law 
aud began practice in 1834. In 1832 he was a member of the State Leg- 
islature. In 1846 was one of the Triumvirate of his native State and 
Deputy in the Eepublican Congress. In 1847 to 1852 w^as the Governor 
of Oajaca. In 1853 Santa Anna banished him, but in 1855 he returned 
to Mexico, joining the forces of Alvarez, who, after the defeat of Santa 
Anna, made him Minister of Justice. 

Comonfort succeeded Alvarez, and Juarez became President of the 
Supreme Court and Minister of the Interior in December, 1855. 

In February, 1858, Zuloaga replaced Comonfort (it is said unconsti- 
tutionally, ) and by virtue of his office as Chief Justice Juarez claimed 
the Presidency. 

In 1861 he defeated the unconstitutional party, and Congress duly 
elected him (January 19th) President. 

In July, 1861, he issued a decree suspending for two years all pay- 
ments of public debts. This led to the landing of English, Spanish and 
French troops in Mexico. The first two powers withdrew, but France 
declared war in 1862, and on May 28th, 1864, Maximilian landed at Vera 
Cruz and was declared Emperor. Juarez, however, maintained an obsti- 
nate resistance, and Maximilian was obliged to endure a siege at Quere- 
taro, in 1867, until May 15th, when he was captured. Maximilian, with 
two of his generals, was shot June 19th, 1867. 

In August, 1867, Juarez was again elected President, and in 1871 re- 
elected. He died of apoplexy, at the city of Mexico, July 18th, 1872. 

Marc/i 24th, 1636 (?) Rhode Island Founded. 

In 1635 the general court pronounced against him (Roger Williams) 
to sentence him to exile. Winter was at hand, Williams obtained per- 
mission to remain until spring. It was resolved to remove him to 
England, and in a ship just ready to sail. In January, 1636, a warrant 
was accordingly sent to him to come to Boston and embark. For the first 
time he declined the summons of the court. A pinnace was sent for him ; 
the officers repaired to his house ; he was no longer there. Three days 
before he had left Salem, in winter snow aud inclement weather. " For 
fourteen weeks he was sorely tost in a bitter season, not knowing what 
bread or bed did mean." He began to build or plant at Seekouk, but, 
says Williams, "Governor Winthrop privately wrote me to steer my 
course to the Narragansett Bay, encouraging me from the freeuess of the 
place from English claims or patents. I took his prudent notion as the 
voice of God." In June the lawgiver of Khode Island, with five com- 
panions, embarked on the stream ; a frail Indian canoe contained the 
founder of an independent State and its earliest citizens. Tradition has 
marked the sjsring near which they landed ; it is the parent spot ; the 
first inhabited nook of Ehode Island. To express unbroken confidence 
in the mercies of God. Williams called the place Providexce. "I 



LIBERTY PRIMER 31 

desire," he said, "it might he lor a shelter for persons distressed for 
conscience." An Indian deed from Canouicns and Miantonomoh soon 
made him undisputed possessor of an extensive domain (March 24th, 
1638). So long as the inhabitants were few, public affairs were trans- 
acted by a monthly town meeting. This first system had its decisive 
influence on the political history of Rhode Island. Had the territory of 
the State been large, the world would have been filled with wonder and 
admiration at the phenomena of its history. — (Abridged from Bancroft's 
History of United States. ) 

March 24th, 1663. North Carolina Founded. 

In 1630 Sir Robert Heath, Attorney -General of Charles I., obtained 
a grant of territory stretching southward from Virginia, from the 30th 
degree of north latitude, by the name of Carolina. He appears to have 
made no settlement and the patent was declared void. Between 1640- 
1650 persons suffering from religious intolerance in Virginia occupied 
that part of Carolina north of Albemarle Sound. Several families 
from Massachusetts settled a))out Cape Fear. The Earl of Clarendon 
and a company of English noblemen received a charter from Charles 
II. "The charter empowered them to create and publish any laws 
which they should judge necessary with the assent aud advice and 
approbation of the freemen of the colony ; to create courts of judica- 
ture, and appoint judges, magistrates, and officers." . . . One of 
the provisions of this charter deserves particular attention. The King 
authorized the proprietors to allow the inhabitants of the province such 
indulgence and dispensations in religious afiairs as in their discretion 
slioukl be j)roper aud reasonable ; aud no j)erson to whom such liberty 
should be granted was to be molested, punished, or called in question , 
for any differences in speculative opinions with respect to religion, pro- 
vided he disturbed not the civil order of the community. The reason 
given for such a dispensing power is " that it might happen that several 
of the inhabitants could not, in their private oj^inions, conform to the 
exercise of religion according to the litany aud ceremonies of the Church 
of England." The proprietors held their first meeting in May, 1663, 
and agreed upon jjlans. The chief magistrate was called the Palatine, 
and there was a hereditary nobility under the Constitution, which Avas 
prepared by the celebrated John Locke. This Constitution was abolished 
in 1693. 

March 27th. 1634. Maryland Founde.'. 

Lord Baltimore (Cecil Calvert), his two brothers, with twenty other 
gentlemen, Father White and one or two Jesuit missionaries, and between 
two and three hundred laboring men, embarked on the " good ship Ark, ' ' 
of 300 tons, and a pinnace called "The Dove," of about 50 tons ;On 
November 2'2d, 1633. They arrived at Point Comfort, A^a., February 
24th, 1634, where they remained a week, after which they sailed up the 
Potomac. At the Indir.n village of Piscataqua, nearly opposite Mount 



32 LIBERTY PRIMER 

Vernon, they found Henry Fleet, an Englishman, who proved serviceable 
as an interpreter. Going down the river they entered a branch now 
called the St. Marys, and landed at the Indian village of Yoacomoco. At 
this place a treaty was made vrith the Indians and the lands purchased. 
On March 25th a Jesuit priest " said mass," which had never been cele- 
brated in that region before. They placed a cross hewn from a tree, and 
erected it "as a trophy to Christ, the Saviour, while the litany of the 
holy cross was chanted humbly on their knees." On the 17th the emi- 
grants, of whom the larger part were Protestants, took quiet possession 
of the land which the governor had bought. The Indian women taught 
the wives of the'new comers to make bread of maize ; the warriors of the 
tribe instructed the huntsmen how rich were the forests of America in 
game, and joined them in the chase. Nor did the planters cease in the 
endeavor to remove all j ealousy out of the minds of the natives, and at 
last they were able to settle with them a very firm peace and friendship. 
— Bancroft's History of the United States. 

March 31st, 1854. The Treaty with Japan. 

lu the spring of 1849 it came to the knowledge of Commodore Geis- 
inger that some American sailors were imprisoned in Japan, and Com- 
modore Glynn was dispatched to Nagasaki to liberate them. This he did, 
and on returning he laid before the President reasons why he thought it 
to be " a favorable time to enter upon negotiations with Japan." The 
Dutch up to this time had the monopoly of the trade. Mr. Webster, the 
Secretary of State, instructed Commodore Aulick to proceed to Yedo, 
with a letter from President Fillmore, in his flagship, accompanied by as 
many vessels of his squadron as could be conveniently employed in this 
sei-vice, and deliver it to such high officers of the Emperor as might be 
appointed for the purpose of receiving it. The princiisal object of his 
visit was to* arrange for supplies of coal, but he had full "power to nego- 
tiate and sign a Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United 
States and the Empire of Japan." This was in June, 1851. In Novem- 
ber, 1852, Commodore Perry was sent with an increased naval force. 
"A copy of the general instructions given to Commodore John H. Au- 
lick " was handed him, which he was to consider as in "full force, and 
applicable to his command." He succeeded in concluding a treaty 
March 31st, 1854. 

A convention at Simoda, June 17th, 1857," further extended the 
rights of Americans in Japan. In 1860 the Japanese Embassy visited the 
United States. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 33 

April 2d, 1512. Florida discovered. 

Juan Pouce de Leon, a Spaniard, sailed in 1508 on an expedition to 
Porto Eico, which he conquered, and became Governor ot the island. 
Although advanced in age, being fifty-two years old, he sailed from 
Porto Rico in search of a mythical fountain of youth, which was 
supposed to exist somewhere in the Bahamas. Failing to find it, he 
sailed to the west and discovered the mainland on Easter Sunday ( one 
account says. ) Laud was probably sighted on Sunday, March STth, but 
a landing could not be effected until April 8th. This landing was made 
at latitude 30° 8^ some miles north of St. Augustine. 

" The country was in the fresh bloom of spring, the -trees gay with 
blossoms, the fields covered with flowers ; from which circumstance, as 
well as from having discovered it on Palm Sunday, ( Pasqua Florida,) he 
gave it the name of Florida."— Tr«.s/(/«r//oH. Irving. 

April 2d, 1743. Thomas Jefferson born at " Sbadwell," Albemarle County, Va. 

Graduated at William and Mary College ; studied law, and admitted 
to the bar 1767. Member of the House of Burgesses 1769-1774. He 
presented to this body instructions for the Virginia delegates to the 
Continental Congress of 1774. But although they were not adopted, 
they were published under the title of "A Summary View of the Eights 
of British America." 

In June, 1775, he became a member of the Continental Congress, 
and on June 10th, 1776, was made the chairman of a committee of five 
to prepare the Declaration of Independence, which he drafted and which 
with a few alterations was adopted and promulgated on the 4th of July 
following. He remained in Congress until 1778, and in 1779 became 
Governor of Virginia, holding the office until 1781. He was then 
associated with Franklin and Adams in completing treaties with 
Europeau j)owers, returning home in 1789, he was made Secretary of 
State iinder Washington, which office he held until 1794. In 1796 
he became Vice President of the United States under President Adams. 
In 1800 he was elected President, and in 1804 reelected, after which he 
retired to his estate at Monticello and devoted himself to education, 
founding the University of Virginia in 1819. 

The writings of Thomas Jefterson wei'e published by Congress in 1854. 

In his inaugural in 1801, he said, "Error of opinion may be tole- 
rated where reason is left free to combat it. ' ' 

He died at Monticello on July 4th, 1820. 

"Those who surrounded the deathbed of Mr. Jefterson, report that, 
in the few short intervals of delirium that occurred, his mind manifestly 
relapsed to the age of the Eevolution. He talked in broken sentences, 
of the committees of safety, and the rest of the great machinery that 
he imagined to be still in action. One of his exclamations was, ' Warn 
the committee to be on their guard ' ; and he instantly rose from his 
bed, with the help of his attendants, and went through the act of writing 



34 LIBERTY PRIMER 

a hurried uote. But these intervals were few and short. His reason 
was almost constantly upon her throne, and the only aspiration he was 
heard to breathe, was a prayer that he might live to see the fourth of 
July. When that day came, all he was heard to whisper was the 
repeated ejaculation, ' Nunc Domine Dimittis ' — ' Nov/, Lord, let ' thy 
servant depart in peace.' The prayer of the patriot was heard and 
answered." — Oration of William Wirt, October 19th, 1826. 

April 2d, 1749. David Ramsay born in Lancaster County, Penn. 

At the age of thirteen he entered Princeton and was graduated later 
with honors. He took the degree of M. D. in 1773, moved to Charleston, 
S. C, and commenced practice. He took an active part in the Revolu- 
tionary struggle and for a while was a surgeon in the Continental Army. 

In 1782 he was elected to Congress, and in 1785 became the Presi- 
dent of that body, presiding over it for a year. 

His first wife was a daughter of John VVitherspoon, President of 
Princeton College. His second wife was a daughter of Henry Laurens. 

He is best known as a historian ; he published the following works : 

1785, History of the Revolution in South Carolina. 2 volumes. 

1790, History of the Revolution. 2 volumes. 

1801, A Life of Washington. 

1808, History of South Carolina. 2 volumes. 

He afterwards wrote a history of the United States which was 
. completed down to the Treaty of Ghent and published by Rev. Dr. S. S. 
Smith, President of Princeton. 

During the last forty years of his life he employed his leisure 
moments in preparing for the press a series of historical works, which 
were afterwards published under the title " Universal History Ameri- 
canized." 

He was assassinated at Charleston, S. C, May 8th, 1812. 

April 4th, 1748. Right Rev. William White born at Philadelphia, Penn. 

He was graduated from the College of Philadelphia in 1763 ; studied 
theology in England ; was ordained Deacon by the Bishop of London, 
1770, Priest by the Bishop of Norwich, 1772, and, returning to America, 
he liecame rector of Christ Church, and St. Peter's Church in the City 
of Philadelphia. In 1777 he became Chaplain to Congress. 

In 1789 he presided over the first Episcopal Convention held in 
America, wrote the Constitution of the Church, and, in connection witli 
Bishop Seabury of Connecticut, revised the Book of Common Prayer so as 
to adapt it for the American Episcoj»al Church. He was elected the first 
Bishop of Pennsylvania in 1786, and consecrated at Lambeth Palace in 
1787. 

He died at Philadelphia, July 17th, 1836. 

"He had a happy combination of intellectual and spiritual qualities 
for the ofiice of Bishop at the organization of tlie Episcopal Church in 
America." 



LIBERTY PRIMER 6o 

''He continued to pray for George III. until tlie Declaration of 
Independence, when he took the oath of allegiance to the United States." 

He said, "I know my danger, and that it is greater for my being a 
clergyman of the Church of England, hut I trust in Providence. The 
cause is just, and I am persuaded will be protected." 

April 5th, 1621. The Return of the Mayflower. 

Among the patches of wild grass which struggle for life in the chok- 
ing sands of the shore are little groups of men and women, looking out 
over the restless ocean. Far out at sea, her sails spread to the breeze, 
creeping slowly but surely from sight, is a vessel. As she dwindles to a 
speck upon the horizon, the watchers on the shore are gazing with tearful 
eyes and longing hearts after the ship. It has been well said that the 
departure of the 3Iayflower, leaving this little band of pilgrims on an 
almost unknown shore, " surpasses in dignity, though not in desperation, 
the burning of his ships by Cortez." Through the struggles of that first 
New England winter, she had always been in sight, a refuge and relief 
in any emergency. While the good ship lay in Plymouth harbor, the 
Pilgrims had a hold upon the outer world. But now they saw her 
disappear in the distance, they realized that the last frail link that had 
bound them to kindred and friends in the old world was severed, perhaps 
forever. There they stood upon the bleak and desolate shore, bereaved 
of the sympathy of home, and with none to show them kindness or bid 
them welcome here. Through all the mouths of their sojourn in this 
strange land, disease had been Inisy among them and death had reaped a 
harvest. Of the 100 who had landed from tlie 31ayfioicer less than a year 
before, scarcely 50 remained. ■•" •■ * There they stand, grave men and 
matrons, hardy youth and pensive maidens, exiled, self-centered, with 
no friends but God and each other. A gloomy picture ? Yes— to human 
view. But how fraught with glorious promise, which the years have 
fulfilled. How brightened by the light of later history of those men and 
women, who bravely accepted peril and discomfort that they might build 
a State with the motto, "Peace and Liberty." In the face of hardships 
innumerable and stupendous, they were invincible, and the secret of 
their strength was this, that in their right hand they held the open 
Bible, in their left the fundamental principles of American Liberty. — 
Bev. Joseph H. Knowlcs, D.D. 

April 5th, 1818. The Battle of Maypu, or Maipo. Chili. 

The patriot army took position at the farm of Espejo, about three 
leagues from the capitol, and waited for the enemy, who were cautiously 
advancing. On the afternoon of the 3d of April, Osorio crossed the Maipo 
and came to the plains, the flanks and rear of his army constantly harassed 
by parties of the patriot cavalry. Skirmishing was kept up during the 
afternoon of the 3d and 4th. On the 5th the Royalist Army took up a 
position on the brow of a hill ; the famous Spanish Burgos Regiment 



36 LIBERTY PRIMER 

occupied the right wing, the Infantos of Dou Carlos the left, the Peruvian 
and Conception troops the center. Four squadrons of dragoons flanked 
the right, a body of lancers the left, with a battery placed on a hill still 
further to the left. The Royalist lines were about a mile in length and 
confronted the patriot ranks. The left of the patriot columns was 
commanded by General Alverado, the center by Balcarce, the right by 
Las Hares, the reserves by Quiutana. Each army numbered not lar 
from 5,000 troops ; each was led by generals of consummate aljility ; but 
the Royalists had the advantage in this, that they had just won an 
Important victory ( Cancha Rayada,) which had reduced the tine Patriot 
Army to about one-half its original strength. This tilled one army with 
enthusiasm, the other with doubt and forebodings. 

The battle began about eleven o'clock by a lively cannonading from 
the patriot battery on the right. Colonel Blanco Encalada commanded 
the artillery, and with this met the enemy's left as it moved down the 
hill. A charge was made upon the four lield pieces at the left of the 
Royalists' lines ; these were captured and turned against the foe. The 
battle raged most furiously about the farm house of Espejo. Until the 
close of the day the advantage seemed to be with Osorio ; the center and 
one wing of his army held the field, and the defeat of the patriots 
seemed certain. On San Martin's left wing the patriots had been able to 
vdthstand the Burgos Regiment for some time, but the regiment of 
, negroes stationed there at last became confused ; four hundred of them 
were lying dead upon the field. The Burgos Regiment now attempted 
to form itself into a square for a decisive charge ; this broke the Spanish 
lines and threw them into momentary disorder. Colonel O'Brien, a 
gallant Irishman, commanded here a trooj) of j)atriot horse grenadiers. 
With them he reinforced the reserves under General Quiutana, which 
had been ordered to support this wing. Forming rapidly for a charge, 
O'Brien threw his men so furiously upon the forming regiment of 
Burgos that he dispersed it. This regiment was the flower of Osorio's 
army, and its defeat caused such confusion in the ranks that the patriots 
were able to press their foe at all points. The Burgos troops fled to the 
Espejo farm house ; Las Hares soon overtook the left which had rushed 
to the Espejo. .For a while the action was kept up in the center, but 
with both wings beaten back, this part of the royal army gave way and 
retreated with the rest. 

The victory was decisive ; half of Osorio's troops were killed or 
wounded, and the rest taken prisoners ; the patriots lost upwards of a 
thousand men. A stand was made for some time by some troops in the 
farm house, rallied by the brave Ordonez, but they were driven out and 
about five hundred of them killed in the court and adjoining vineyards 
General Osorio etfected his escape, and joined a party of officers and men 
who had fled to Conception, from which place they embarked for Peru. 
There were 280 who escaped in this manner. It was a brilliant and 
decisive victory and established the independence of Chili ; not only that. 



LIBERTY PETMER 37 

it paved the way for the iudependence of Peru, for it broke the power 
Abascal had been so long able to maiutain there. — A History of Chili by 
Anso)i Uriel Hancocl; imges US, 174- 

April 8th, 1731. William Williams born at Lebanon. Conn. 

He was graduated from Harvard in 1751, and in 1756 became Town 
Clerk. He was elected to the General Assembly and was for several 
years Speaker of the House of Representatives. During the Revolution 
he was a member of the Council of Safety whose services were daily 
and unceasing. He was upon the staff of Col. Ephraim and took part 
in the battle at Lake George. 

In 1776 he represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress, and 
was one of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. He was 
again in Congress in 1783-84. In 1780 he was elected Counsellor, and 
annually reelected for twenty-four years. He was a meml)er of the State 
Constitutional Convention. 

He died August 2d, 1811. 

" He embarked enthusiastically in the cause of the colonies, and by 
his writings and eloquence, he aroused the feelings of his fellow citizens 
to resist the arbitrary measures of Great Britain and maintain their 
rights. ' ' 

April 9th, 1682. La Salle at the mouth of the Mississippi River. 

Toward the close of 1681, La Salle, with a party in canoes, again 
reached the head of Lake Michigan at the present sight of Chicago, and 
making a large portage to the Illinois, descended it to the Mississippi, 
which he followed to its mouth, where he set up a cross and the arms of 
France on April 9th, 1682, and "In the name of Louis XIV., King of 
France," formally took possession of the whole country watered by that 
river. The itinerary is as follows : 

La Salle's i)arty floated down the Illinois Fel)ruary 6th, 1682. 

Emerged ujion the Mississippi February 24th. 

Eucamijed at Chickasaw Bluffs and built Fort Prudhomme March 
31st, at the mouth of the Red river. 

At the divergence of three mouths of the Mississippi April 6th. 

Erected at the mouth of the river a monument and cross l)earing the 
arms of France, April 9th, 1682. 

* April 10th, 1806. Death of Horatio Gates at New York City. 

He was born at Maldeu, Essex, England, in 1728. He entered the 
English army at an early age, and without purchase rose to the rank of 
major. He was an aide to General Monkton at the capture of Martinico, 



* Note — Wheia it has been impossible to fix the date of birtli of a person 
entitled in the opinion of the Committee to be commemorated by having 
their name included in Liberty Primer and by the ringing of the Columbian 
Liberty Bell, the date of death is taken. 



38 LIBERTY PRIMER 

and after the peace of Aix-la-Cbapelle be was among the first troops 
which lauded at Halitiix under Cornwallis. He was shot through the 
body at the time of Braddock's defeat ou July 9th, 1755. When peace 
was declared be purchased an estate in Virginia and went there to reside, 
remaining until the breaking out of the Revolution called him to espouse 
the cause of America. Congress appointed him in 1775 Adjutant General. 
He went with Washington to Cambridge, and in June, 1776, took com- 
mand of the army in Canada, but was superceded by Schuyler in May, 
1777, but in the loUowing August be relieved that officer in the command 
of the Northern Department. 

On the 17th of October, 1777, at Saratoga, the British forces under 
General Burgoyne, surrendered and piled their arms, an event that spread 
great joy throughout the entire country. " His conduct towards his 
conquered enemy was marked by a delicacy which does him the highest 
honor. He did not permit his troops to witness the mortification of the 
British in depositing their arms." 

The surrender of Charleston on May 12tb, 1780, to Sir Henry 
Clinton, called for Gates to take the command of the Southern Depart- 
ment ou the 13tb of June following. On the 16th of August he was 
totally defeated by Lord Cornwallis at Camden. On December 3d he 
was relieved by General Greene, but in 1782 he was restored to bis 
command. 

After peace was concluded he retired to his farm at Berkeley, where 
he remained until 1790, when he removed to New York City, first, how- 
ever, emancipating all his slaves and providing for those who were not 
capable of caring for themselves. Some of them, however, would not 
leave, but remained in the service of the family. On arriving at New 
York the freedom of the city was presented to him, and in 1800 he was 
elected to the State Legislature, but he declined to serve when he felt he 
could be no longer " useful in the cause of liberty." 

On February 27th, 1805, he wrote to his friend. Dr. Mitchel, at 
Washington, as follows : "I am^very weak and have evident signs of an 
approaching dissolution, but I have lived long enough to see a mighty 
people animated with the spirit to be free, and governed by transcendant 
abilities and honor." 

April 12th, 1879. The South African Republic. {Transvaal.) 

On January r2th, 1852, the "Sand River Convention" gave inde- 
pendence to the Transvaal and the Orange River Sovereignty. On April 
12tb, 1877, during the administration of President Thomas F. Burgers, 
and against the will of the people, and the treaty with England, — the 
British Government, through an underhand commission. Sir Theophilus 
Shepstone seized and annexed the Republic. Protests against the act, by 
the Volksraad, Executive Council and the President, and by special del- 
egates, Messrs. Joubert and Kruger to London — the country being in a 
weakened state, having just finished an exhaustive war with trouble- 



LIBERTY PEIMER 39 

some native tribes — were of no avail, and itimssed under Britisli adminis- 
tration as the "Transvaal." 

Two years later, on April 12th, 1879, a number of the Transvaal 
burghers, smarting under the thought of their free republic being stolen 
from them, as by a thief in the night, met at Wonderfontein and 
took a mutual oath of allegiance, "that with unity, hand in hand, as 
men and brethren, solemnly promising to be faithful to their country and 
people, and, looking unto God, to work together until death lor the 
restoration of the liberty of their Republic. So truly help us, God 
Almighty." A resolution followed this, that in one year hence, the 
burghers would fight to restore the Republic. When the time approached 
a war ensued, and the British forces were badly beaten by the Dutch 
burghers under their commander, General Joubert. 

Soon after, their independence and freedom from British rule was 
again established and so remains. His Honor, S. J. P. Kruger has been 
President of the Republic since the restoration. (From a letter of Charles 
W. Riley, ex-Consul General of the Orange Free State, dated February 
22d, 1894.) 

April 13th, 1829. The Roman Catholic Emancipation Act. 

The passing of this bill by Parliament, which was introduced by Mr. 
Peel, removed from Roman Catholics most of the disadvantages under 
which they had so long labored. An agitation in Ireland, encouraged by 
O'Connell, did much to forward the measure. 

April 13th, 1813. Stephen A. Douglas, born at Brandon, Vt. 

His father, who was a physician, died wheu Stephen was only two 
months old. He lived (m a farm until he was fifteen years old, when he 
was apprenticed to a cabinet maker. He went to Canandaigua, N. Y., 
where he went to school and studied law. In 1833 he emigrated to Illi- 
nois. He made part of the journey on foot from lack of money. He 
settled at Winchester and began teaching school. In 1834 he was 
admitted to practice law, and within a year became Attorney-General 
of the state, resigning the office in 1835." He became a member of the 
State Legislature, and in 1837 was appointed Register of the United 
States Land Office, in Springfield, 111., holding the office until 1839, when 
he resigned. In 1837 he ran for Congress, but was defeated. In 1840 he 
was Secretary of State for Illinois ; in 1841, Judge of the Supreme Court, 
but in 1843 he resigned to accept the nomination for Congress. He was 
elected by 400 majority, and reelected for the two following terms. 
He took his seat as United States Senator from Illinois on March 4th, 
1847. In 1852, and again in 1856, he was an unsuccessful candidate for 
the Presidency. In 1858 he engaged in a political contest with Abraham 
Lincoln for the Seuatorship. Douglas carried the Legislature l>y a small 
majority and gained his seat. 

During the war he gave the strongest support to the Union, and 
during his last illness dictated a letter for publication, in which he de- 



40 LIBERTY PRIMER 

dared it the duty of all patriotic men to sustain the Union, the Consti- 
tution, the Government and the flag against all assailants. 

He was known as " The Little Giant. " His qualities gave him a 
wonderful power over men. He married twice ; in 1847, Martha, 
daughter of Robert Morris, of Rockingham, N. C, and after her death, 
Adele, daughter of James Madison Cutts, of Washington, D. C. 

He died at Chicago, 111., 1861. 

"I believe in my conscience that it is a duty we owe to ourselves, 
our children, and our God, to protect this government and that flag from 
every assailant, be he who he may. ''^—Address to Illinois Legishiiure, 
April £5th, 1861. 

April 15th, 1598. The Edict of Nantes. 

On August 4th, 1589, Henry IV. became, by the death of Henry III., 
king of the French people. Henry was a Protestant, and the "Cath- 
olics Politiques " in the army stood aloof and disbanded. The Huguenots 
formed the only sound nucleus of his power. In 1593, Henry professed 
Catholicism. On April 13th, 1598, he was at the Castle of Nantes, from 
which place he issued this decree in order to secure to his old Iriends, the 
Protestants, the free exercise of their religion. "It was the purest and 
most efi^ulgent gem of Henry's crown." 

Louis XIV., at the instance of his wife, Mme. de Maintenon, who 
had been a Protestant, and who was the grand-daughter of Agrippe 
d'Aubigne, the friend of Henry IV., revoked the edict on the 24th of 
October, 1685. The revocation drove nearly five hundred thousand 
Huguenots out of France, many of whom were the best artisans of the 
country. They went to England, Holland, Germany, and America. 

April 18th, 1775. Paul Reveres Ride. 

The day before the memorable 19th of April, General Gage began 
preparations for a military expedition. Boats from a war ship were 
launched to carry troops across the Charles river. The movement was 
noticed by the patriots. Companies were massed on the Common under 
the pretence of learning a new military exercise. 

Doctor, afterwards General Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill, at once 
sent Paul Revere, an energetic patriot of Boston, to arouse the country. 
He was sent to notify Hancock and Adams, who were at Lexington, and 
to warn the people of Concord that the troops were connng to destroy the 
military stores collected there. Warren had been informed of the object 
of the expedition. 

Revere only waited to ask a friend to hang out two lanterns in the 
steeple of the North meeting house, as a signal to notify watchers on the 
other side of the river when the troops were in motion, and then rowed 
across the stream to Charlestown. He was not a moment too soon. Gen- 
eral Gage heard that his plans had been discovered. Orders were at 
once given that no person should be allowed to leave Boston. Had these 



LIBERTY PEIMEK 41 

orders been given tive minutes sooner, the whole course of the Revolution 
might have been changed. As it was, Revere reached the other side in 
safety. He galloped on horseback through the towns, calling up the 
people in every house. He reached Lexington. Hancock and Adams 
were warned. "When passing about a mile beyond Lexington a party of 
British officers, who had come out of Boston that afternoon, were seen 
lurking in bye-places in the country until after dark. They stopped 
Revere, who immediately fled, and was pursued for a long distance by an 
officer, who, when he had overtaken him, presented a pistol and cried 
out, "You 're a dead man if you don't stop," but he kept on until he 
had gained a house when, stopping suddenly, he was thrown from his 
horse ; and, having the presence of mind to call out to the people of the 
house. "Turnout! Turn out! I've got one of them." The officer 
immediately retreated as fast as he could. — Hezekiah Buttcrworth and the 
Pcnnsylmnia Journal of 1775. 

April 18th, 1783. Washington Issues Orders for the Cessation of Hostilities. 

These orders were issued at Newburgh, N. Y. On the 11th of April, 
Congress had issued a proclamation announcing the cessation of hostilities. 
A Proclamation of Peace was issued on April 19th, eight years after the 
beginning of the war at the battle of Lexington. 

The army was disbanded on November 3d. 

The Continental Army, it is said, numbered, during the war, 231,791. 
Of these, there were furnished by Massachusetts, 67,907; Connecticut, 
31,989 ; Virginia, 26,678 ; Pennsylvania, 25,678 ; Georgia, 2,679 ; from 
other States, 76,860. Total, 231,791. 

The Treaty of Peace was signed November 30th, 1782. 

Cornwallis surrendered on October 17th, 1781. 

April 19th, 1721. Roger Sherman born at Newton, Mass. 

In 1723 the family moved to Stouington, Conn., where he only had 
the advantages of a country school. He was apprenticed to a shoemaker, 
and he worked in this occupation until he was twenty-two years old. In 
1743 he removed to New Milford, Conn., making the journey on foot and 
carrying with him his shoemaker's tools ; here he entered into mercantile 
business with his brother. In 1745 he was appointed surveyor of lauds 
for the county ; he also furnished the astronomical calculations for an 
almauac published at New York. He devoted his leisure to the study of 
law and was admitted to the Bar in 1754. 

In 1755 he was elected to represent New Milford in the General 
Assembly of Connecticut. In 1759 he was made Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas in Litchfield County. In 1761 he removed to New Haven 
where he received the same appointment, and became also the Treasurer 
of Yale College. In 1765 Yale College gave him the honorary degree of 
A.M. The next year he was a member of the Upper House of the 
Legislature and Judge of the Superior Court. 



42 LIBERTY PRIMER 

In August, 1774, he was elected a delegate to the Continental Con- 
gress and was present at its opening on September 5th. He was 
appointed with Adams, Franklin, Jefferson and Livingston to prepare 
the Declaration of Independence. In 1783, associated with Judge 
Richard Law, he revised the Statutes of the State of Connecticut. The 
following year he became Mayor of New Haven, holding the office until 
his death. With Dr. Samuel Johnson and Oliver Ellsworth he was 
chosen delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He was also 
a member of the State Convention that ratified the Federal Constitution. 
He wrote a series of articles over the signature of ' ' Citizen ' ' that largely 
influenced its adoption. He was chosen representative to Congress for 
Connecticut, and in 1781 was made United States Senator from his State. 

He died at New Haven, Conn., July 23d, 1793. 

Thomas Jefferson said of him that he was " a man who never said a 
foolish thing. ' ' 

Nathaniel Bacon said, " He had more common sense than any man I 
have ever known." 

April 19th, 1775. The Battle of Lexington. 

About ten o'clock Tuesday night it was discovered that the British 
troops were in motion in a very secret manner, embarking in boats that 
had been brought to the lower end of the Common in the evening. 
Messengers at once started ofi'to warn the country that the people might 
be on their guard. A body of troops under Lieut. Col. Smith crossed 
the river, landing at PhipjD's Farm, and proceeded with great silence to 
Lexington, six miles below Concord. A company of militia, numbering 
eighty men, had mustered near the meeting house ; just at sunrise the 
king's troops came in sight, one or two officers fired their pistols, and this 
was followed by firing from the soldiers ; eight of the Americans were 
killed and nine wounded. The troops renewed their march to Concord, 
Avhere dividing into parties they went directly to the several places 
where the province stores were deposited and destroyed much property. 
About one hundred and fifty militia, who had mustered upon the alarm, 
coming toward the bridge, were fired upon by the troops and two were 
killed, "thus did the troops of Britain's king ^xq first at two several 
times upon his loyal American subjects and put a period to ten lives 
before a gun was fired at them ; our people then returned the fire, and 
obliged the troops to retreat." Reenforcements were sent under Earl 
Percy with two field pieces, who joined the retreating party at Lexington 
and made a stand. At Menotomy a party of militia under the Rev. 
Dr. Phillips Payson attacked a party of twelve who were carrying off 
stores, killed one and took their arms and stores without loss. At the 
end of an hour the enemy at Lexington found it necessary to make a 
second retreat, carrying their dead and wounded with them to Charles- 
town, arriving at the Neck a little after sunset. Passing over the Neck 
they encamped on Bunker Hill for the night. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 43 

lu this action the regiilars lost 65 killed, 180 wounded and 28 
prisoners. The patriots lost 50 killed, 54 wounded and 4 missing. — ■ 
Pennsylvania Journal of 1775, diyhtly altered. 

The following officers and gentlemen were among the killed : 
Justice Isaac Gardner, of Brookline ; Capt. Isaac Davis, of Acton ; 
Capt. Jonathan Wilson, of Bedford ; Lieut. John Brown and Sergt. 
Elisha Mills, of Needham ; Deacon Josiah Hayues, of Sudbury. 
Of the wounded : 

Capt. Eleazer Kingsbury, of Needham ; Capt. Samuel Williams, 
of Cambridge ; Capt. Charles Mills, Capt. Nathaniel Barrett and George 
Minot, of Concord ; Capt. Oliver Barnes and Deacon Aaron Chamberlain, 
of Chelmsford. — Gordon^s American Revolution. 

By the rude bridge that arched the ilood, 

Their flag to April's breeze tiufurled, 
Here once the embattled farmers stood 

And fired the shot heard around the world. 

— Ralpli Waldo Emerson. 

April 19th, 1780. Grattan's Declaration of Irish Independence. 

Henry Grattan introduced into the Irish Parliament, where he 
took his seat as member in 1775, his famous resolution that the " King 
with the consent of the Parliament of Ireland was alone competent to 
enact laws to bind Ireland, and that Great Britain and Ireland were 
indissolubly united, but only under a common sovereign." The oration 
which he made on that occasion can never be forgotten by those wlio 
heard it. The language of Milton and Shakespeare can alone describe 
its etfects. — Hardy. 

On February 22d, 1782, he brought forward an address to the King, 
declaring the rights of Ireland, and on April l(jth, 1782, for the third 
time introduced the "Declaration of Rights," which was this time 
passed by both houses. On May 27th the Duke of Portland announced 
that the "British Legislature have concurred in a- resolution to remove 
the causes of your discontentment and jealousies ;" but this Declaratory 
Act was shortly after repealed by the British Parliament. 

When he rose on Ajjril lOth to move a Declaration of Rights, he 
began his speech with these words, " Now I am about to address a free 
people." '"So completely did his eloquence rise to what was deemed 
the greatness of the occasion, that the effect has seldom been equaled in 
the annals of oratory ; and in the state of high-wrought excitement that 
prevailed, the government, then doubtful of the result of the siege of 
Gibraltar by the French and Spanish, did not dare to refuse the boon 
which had already been appropriated without their permission." 

April 19th, 1825. Uruguayan Patriots land at Boca de Guitierrez. 

The Uruguayans, under Juan Antonio Lavalleja, elfected a landing 
for the purpose of freeing their country from the control of Brazil. They 



44 LIBERTY PRIMER 

met the Brazilian Army, under General Laguna, on April 23d at San 
Salvador, and defeated them. On May 29th, with other forces, Lavalleja 
surprised General Eivera, " who with his whole force joined the popular 
side." On October 12th following, Lavalleja gained the victory at 
Sarandi. 

April 21st, 1500. Brazil discovered. 

Pedro Alwarez Cabral, commander of the second Portuguese fleet 
which doubled the Cape of Good Hope, discovered that portion of the coast 
of Brazil now called Espirito Santo. On May 3d he made a landing at 
Porto Seguro. He called the country ' ' Terra, da Santa Cruz. ' ' 

April 21st, 1782. Freidrich Wilhelm August Froebel born at Oberweissbach, 
Thuringian Forest. 
His early education was neglected ; left to himself in the forest, he 
began to study, in his own way, nature. He left at the age of seventeen 
impressed with the idea of " the unity of nature, and he longed to study 
the natural sciences that he might tind in them various applications of 
nature's universal laws." It was with the greatest difficulty that he 
obtained permission to join his brother at the University of Jena, where 
he remained one year, in which he went from lecture to lecture "seeking 
to find the connection of the sciences, which to him had more interest 
than the science itself." His university course ended ingloriously, by 
his being imprisoned for debt of thirty shillings. He went to Frankfort- 
on-the-Main where he studied architecture. It was while here that he 
formed the acquaintance of the director of a model school ; he persuaded 
Froebel to throw up his position and begin teaching. He took a post in 
this school and worked there for two years with the greatest success, 
when he retired and undertook the education of the boys of one lamily. 
Afterwards he went to Yverdon, taking the boys with him, and joined 
the famous institution of Pestalozzi. In 1811 he studied at Gottingen, 
and then at Berlin, and in 1813 served in Lutzow's Corps through 
the campaign, returning in 1814 to Berlin, he became the Curator 
of the Museum under Professor Weiss. In 1816 he went to Greisheim, 
where he first taught his brother's children, and then opened a school, 
which was afterwards transferred to Keilhau ; for fourteen years he 
devoted himself to this work. At the instance of the government of S witz- 
erland he moved to Burgdorf (Bernesetown) in order to establish an 
orjjhanage and to superintend a course of training for teachers. He 
found that the children at Burgdorf who were received into the Swiss 
schools were entirely neglected prior to the attainment of the school age, 
that as a consequence the schools were very defective. " The Education 
of Man " appeared in 1826 ; this book is held to be a great book, and 
deals largely with the subject of education before the age of seven years. 
In 1837 he returned to Keilhau and at Blankenburg opened his first 



LIBERTY PRIMER 45 

"Kindergarten," but he was compelled to close it for want of funds. 
He carried on a coui-se of instruction for teachers at Keilhan. Liehenstein, 
and in the Duchy of Meiningen. 

He died at Bad-Liebenstein June 21st, 1852. 

"He originated the name 'Kindergarten' and called the Superin- 
tendents 'children's gardeners.' He laid great stress on every child cul- 
tivating his own plot of ground, but this was not his reason for the choice 
of the name. It was rather that he thought of these institutions as en- 
closures in which the young human plants are nurtured. In the Kinder- 
garten the children's employment should be play. But any occupation 
in which children delight is play to them ; and Froebel invented a series 
of employments, which, while they are in this sense play to the 
children, have, nevertheless, as seen from an adult point of view, a dis- 
tinct educational object." 

April 21st. 1802. Louis Kossuth born at Monok, Zemplin, Hungary. 

He was educated at the Pi'otestant College of Scharaschpatack, gradu- 
ated in 182G. In 1830, as agent of the Countess of Szapary, he Avas a 
member of the comital assembly. At the age of twenty-seven he was a 
member of the National Diet. He began the publication of a report of the 
proceedings of this body on lithographic sheets, until the government 
suppressed them ; then he issued manuscript circulars. For this the 
government prosecuted him for high treason, and in 1839 he was 
sentenced to four years' imprisonment, but after a year and a half of 
confinement he was liberated by an act of amnesty. In January, 1841, 
he was editor of Hirlap at Festh. In March, 1848, he entered Vienna to 
urge the claims of Hungary, at the head of a deputation. He returned 
to Presburg as the Minister of Finance. The reforms he had advocated 
were now carried out, the feudal system was swept away, the peasants 
declared free, the country undertaking to indemnify the landlords. On 
July 2d, 1848, he was created Governor of Hungary, which office he held 
during the civil war of 1848-49. When Hungarian liberty was crushed, 
he fled to Turkey, reaching Schumla with Bem, Dembinski, Perczel, 
Cuyon, and some 5,000 men and was appointed a residence at Widdin. 
The refugees were removed to Katahia in Asia Minor, where they 
remained until August 22d, 1851. On September 1st, 1851, he left 
Katahia, touched at Speczia and at Marseilles, and then visited Gibraltar 
and Lisbon, going thence to Southampton. The United Stales govern- 
ment dispatched the steamer 3Iississip2)i to bring him to Ameilca. He 
sailed for New York on the 21st of November, where he was received 
with a great ovation. He made a tour of the United States, arousing 
interest in behalf of Hungary, and then returned to England, Here 
he connected himself with newspapers and delivered lectures. In 
1860, Messrs. Day & Son became the defendants in a suit brought by the 
Austrian government for the lithographing of certain bank notes lor 
circulation in Hungary, which were signed by Louis Kossuth as Gov- 



46 LIBERTY PRIMER 

ernor. In November, 1861, he pn1)lisbed an article in Persevcranca ( an 
Italian paper,) respecting the situation in Hungary, and urging Italy to 
war with Austria. On June 6th, 1866, he advised the Hungarians to 
reject the overtures of Francis Joseph. On August 1st, 1867, he was 
elected deputy for Witzen, but declined to accept the office. In Novem- 
ber, 1879, he lost his rights as a Hungarian citizen, the Chamber oj 
Deputies having voted that an uninterrupted residence abroad of over ten 
years deprived a Hungarian of his civil status. This vote was passed 141 
to 52. In 1852 he published the last volume of his memoirs. The cable 
dispatches ( March, 1894,) at this writing bring word that the old patriot 
has joined the illustrious dead. He has lived the last years of his life at 
Turin, suffering from the inlirmities of old age. 

"Kossuth is one of the remarkable men of the nineteenth century, 
and while his life for a generation has not been marked with such stormy 
episodes as those of his earlier years, he has remained one of the 
prominent figures of the history of our times." 

Apr/'/ 21st, 1836. The Battle of San Jacinto. 

The day before the battle, General Sam Houston said to General 
Rusk, " Tomorrow I will conquer, slaughter and put to flight the entire 
Mexican Army, and it shall not cost me a dozen of my brave men." 
Houston made the attack with but 700 men upon a Mexican force under 
General Santa Anna, of 1,800. The Texan cry was, " Remember the 
Alamo." The Mexicans were badly defeated, 630 were killed, 280 were 
wounded, and the remainder including Santa Anna were made prisoners. 
The Texan loss was seven killed and thirty wounded. This battle was 
decisive and secured the independence of the Republic of Texas. 

April 22d, 1744-. Jamas Sullivan born at Berwick, Maine. 

He was carefully educated by his father ; he studied law, was 
admitted to the bar, and before the Revolution was ranked as one of the 
most eminent members of the profession. He was the King's attorney 
for Kent county. 

He was a member of the Provincial Congress, and in 1775, sent 
by that body on a mission to Ticonderoga. In 1776, he was with John 
Adams, William Gushing and several others appointed a Judge of the 
Superior Court. He was a member of the State Constitutional Conven- 
tion, and in 1783 represented Massachusetts in Congress, and was one of 
the commission to run the boundary line between Massachusetts and New 
York and to settle their claims to certain western lands ; 1787, mem- 
ber of the Executive Council ; 1790. Attorney-General ; 1796, appointed 
by Washington to arrange the boundary between the United States and 
the British Provinces ; 1807, Governor of Massachusetts. He died while 
Governor, October 17th, 1808. 

" The great traits of his mind were force, comprehensiveness and 
ardour. Nothing of consequence escaped the fullness and intensity of his 



LIBERTY PRIMER 47 

thoughts. His arguments were close, clear aud strong, not calculated so 
much for parade as to secure conviction. In his administration he was 
wise, upright and impartial. Personal and professional pursuits did not 
wholly engross his care. Letters and science received his aid and en- 
couragement. He was one of the first members of the American Academy 
of Fine Arts, and one of the founders, aud President for manj^ years of 
the Massachusetts Historical Society. ' ' 

April 22d, 1884. The African Internaiional Association Recognized by the 
United States. 
The President, in his annual message, recommended the recognition 
of the flag of the Association, and on April 10th a resolution was passed 
hy the Senate in executive session concurring in the view taken by the 
President. The injunction of secrecy being removed, Mr. Henry S. 
Sanford, the representative of the Association, made a declaration in 
regard to the objects of the Society, their treaties with the legitimate 
sovereigns of the Congo basin aud the Niadi-Kialun and in the adjacent 
territories on the Atlantic. The Secretary of State, Frederick T. Freling- 
huysen, by order of the President and the Senate, announced that orders 
would be issued to officers of our government to acknowledge the flag of 
the Association as that of a friendly nation. 

Aprii 22d, 1889. O/clahoma Opened for Settlement. 

The bill creating Oklahoma passed the United States Senate, February 
13th, 1890. The House, on March 13th, 1890. On March 27th, 1889, 
the President fixed the day for the opening of the Territory for settle- 
ment, but until the date mentioned no one was i)ermitted to enter it. 
''Boomers" began to gather around the borders in large numbers. On 
April 7th they threatened to destroy the railroad bridges leading into the 
Territory. On April 11th a number of settlers from Kansas were per- 
mitted to cross the " Cherokee Strip. " On April 14th disputes respect- 
ing land claims between Texans and Kausans led to bloodshed. On 
April 15th trains heavily loaded with houses, goods, and all necessary 
supplies for a new colony, stood ready at Kansas City waiting for the 
signal for admission. On the 22d (the day for admission), the wildest 
stampede took place over the borders, and thousands began the wild 
scramble for place in securing farms. 

'' God ! What a race ; all liie merged into arrowy flight ; 

Tramjjle the brother down, murder, if need be so, 
Eide like the wind and reach the Promised Land ere night, 

The Strip is open, is ours, to build on, harrow and sow. 

So, spent and bruised, and scorched, down trail thick strewn with hopes 
Awreck, did the Boomers race to the place they would attain ; 

Seizing it, scot and lot, ringing it round with hopes. 

The homes they had straightly won through fire and blood and pain." 

— Richard Burtan. 



48 LIBERTY PEIMER 

" Oklahoma continues to comport herself as if she had been an open 
settlement a hundred years, instead of only four. Her latest statistics 
show neai-ly 2,400,000 acres of farm land in use, with a cash value of 
more than $13,000,000. Her farm implements are worth $340,000, and 
she has growing 683,000 apple trees, 648,000 peach trees, 69,000 cherry 
trees, 51,000 pear trees, and a great variety of other fruit trees and vines. 
The whole Territory is adapted for fruit growing." — New York Sun, 
February, 1894. 



April 24th, 1704. First Daily Newspaper in the United States. 

In 1663, Sir Roger d'Estrange established what may be perhaps 
considered the first issue of general public information in England. It 
was entitled the Public Intelligencer, and was continued for three years, 
when it ceased upon the appearance of the Gazette. In the United States 
the Boston News Letter made its first issue on April 24th, 1704. It was 
twelve inches long by eight inches wide, printed upon a half-sheet of 
paper. It continued publication until 1774. 

1775 there were thirty-seven newspapers in the United States ; in 
1810, 358 ; in 1834, 1,555. 

Eowell reports for 1893 the number of papers published in the 
United States and Canada as 20,954, the total yearly issue being 
3,481,610,000. 

It is estimated that there are about 50,000 newspapers in the world, 
more than half of which are jirinted in the English language. 



April 25th, 1599. Oliver Cromwell born at Huntingdon, England. 

He was the son of Robert Cromwell, second son of Sir Henry Crom- 
well and Elizabeth Steward. He was educated at Huntingdon Grammar 
School under Dr. Thomas Beard, and on April 22d, 1616, entered Sidney 
Sussex College, Cambridge. He did not graduate, but ou the death of 
his father in June, 1617, he left the University. He afterwards studied 
law at Lincoln's Inn, but he remained here but a short time. 

On August 22d he was married at St. Giles' Church, Crupplegate, 
Essex, to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Bourchier of Feist ed, and 
returning to Huntingdon, settled down to a quiet farmer's life, in which 
he spent ten years that were uneventful. 

On March 17th, 1628, he entered the House of Commons as a dele- 
gate from Huntingdon. He made his first speech on February 11th, 
1629. "In his Parliamentary course he was more remarkable for his 
business-like habits and energy of character than for the elegance of his 
language or gracefulness of delivery. His appearance and dress, too, 
were plain and unprepossessing." In April, 1640, he took his seat for 
Cambridge, and in the "Long Parliament" that met on November 3d, 
he also sat for Cambridge. 



LIBERTY PRIMER 49 

Oq Jauu.iry 12tli, 1642, Charles left Whitehall to return uo more 
until the day of his execution. At this time Cromwell was forty-three 
years old. "With no knowledge of war, hut much of himself, of men, 
and of the Bible, this stout English squire had made up his mind in no 
hasty, factious spirit to draw his sword against his king, and venture his 
life for what he believed with his whole heart and soul to be the cause of 
'freedom and the truth in Christ.' " In September he received a com- 
mission as Captaiu of horse from tlie Earl of Essex, and he gradually 
gathered around him a regiment of a thousand, whose title, "Ironsides," 
has become famous. From this time until 1G46 he signalized himselt, 
especially at Marston Moor, Newbury and Torrington, and on June 14th, 
1645, Cromwell and his "Ironsides" decided the day at Naseby. On 
April 22d, 1646, he returned to his seat iu Parliament, and was received 
with distinguished honors. 

In 1648 he was sent to restore order in Wales, and from there went 
to Yorkshire and then to Scotland. On December 6th he arrived in 
London, and during the following month sat in the High Court of 
Justice for trying the King. The King was beheaded before the ban- 
queting house at Whitehall on January 30th, 1649. After the execution 
Cromwell was nominated to the new Council of State. 

March 15th, 1649, he was nominated Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. 
He left Loudon on July 10th, embarked at Milford Haven August 13th, 
landed at Dublin August 18th, and in nine months peace was restored 
and he returned to England on May 31st. 1650. 

June 26th, 1650, he was made Captain-General of all the forces of 
the Commonwealth. He was successful at Dunbar September 3d, 1650, 
at Worcester, September 3d, 1654, where "the last hope of royalism was 
buried." 

Ou the morning of April 20th, 1653, Cromwell and his troopers 
entered and dissolved the "Long Parliament " that had now sat for 
twelve years. Summons were issued in his name to 140 persons to act as 
Parliament. This Assembly met July 4th, but on December 12th they 
resigned their power into the hands of Cromwell. Four days after the 
resignation of the "Little Parliament" he assumed the office of Supreme 
Governor, and on December 16th, 1653, he was solemnly installed at 
Westminster "Lord Protector of Euglasid." 

For five years he maintained himself, but his course was disturbed 
by constant plots, cabals and like formidable annoyances. He at length 
fell a victim to a nervous fever, and on the anniversary of his " Fortunate 
Day," September 3d, 1658, he died. 

April 26th, 1638. Founding of Aquidneck, or Aquitneck. 

William Coddington was a native of Lincolnshire and came over 
with Governor Winthrop in the Asbella, arriving at Salem on March 7th, 
1630. He came as an asssistant or magistrate. His name stands at 
the head of a covenant signed at Aquidneck establishing a body politic 



50 LIBERTY PRIMER 

to be governed by the laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of 
Kings. They found, however, that it was soon necessary to decide upon 
something more definite. Mr. Coddington was appointed judge, and 
three elders joined with him. These were directed by the vote of the 
free men, January 2d, 1639, to be governed by the general rules of the 
Word of God, when no particular rules were known. On March 20th, 
1640, another change was made, when a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 
and four assistants were appointed. Coddington was elected Governor 
for seven years successively, and once again toward the close of his life. 
He is known as " The Father of Rhode Island." He died in 1678, aged 
seventy-eight years. 

April 27tb, 1803. Death of Toussaint L'Ouverture in tfie Castle of Joux. 

Franyois Dominique, surnamed Toussaint L'Ouverture, was born at 
Breda, near Cape Town in Santo Domingo, in the year 1743, both of his 
parents being African slaves. ( The Americanized Encycloptedia says he 
was born May 20th, 1746, and calls him Pierre Dominique Toussaint 
L'Overture. ) From Pierre Baptiste he received the rudiments of an edu- 
cation. He was employed to take the care of cattle, but after he had 
learned to read, his master, M. Bayen de Libertat, manager of the estate, 
made him his coachman. 

He took no part whatever in the insurrection of the mulattoes which 
• broke out on August 23d, 1791, but when the proclamation of emancipa- 
tion of February 4th, 1794, was issued, he immediately became conspicu- 
ous because of his superior military abilities. In April, 1796, he became 
Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of St. Domingo. " In his own person 
he exhibited the greatest simplicity, but he surrounded himself with a 
very brilliant staff," and by 1799 was at the height of prosjjerity. "He 
made himself felt everywhere and in everything in the Island, and was 
soon practically the governing power there. He was generous and 
humane, and his great character shines out on the pages of history as the 
one illustrious figure which gives relief from the pain of that dark 
and trying time. Order having been restored, he devoted himself to 
reorganization in which he disi)layed as much genius as he had exhibited 
in the field. The wheels of peaceful industry were again set in motion. 
The old planters returned to their plantations under a guarantee of a 
word that never was broken, and the fields once more smiled with flower 
and harvest. In the course of this work of reorganization he had, in 
May, 1801, promulgated a Constitution which conferred special powers 
upon him, but which was, however, distinctly made subject to the 
approval of the mother country." 

In January, 18J], he conquered the Spanish jjart of St. Domingo, 
and in December following Lssued a proclamation declaring his obedi- 
ence to the French Republic, but at the same time appealing to his 
soldiers in a language that left no doubt whatever of his determination 
to repel force with force. A French expeditionary force of fifty-four saib 



LIBERTY PKIMER 51 

under the command of General Victor Emmanuel Leclerc, ( brother-in- 
law of Napeleon,) landed at Cape Haitien on February 12th, 1802, and 
were met by a steady and persistent resistance on the part of the blacks. 
The war that followed was "characterized by unspeakable atrocities, 
the blacks insisting on fighting Leclerc with his own weapons, exacting 
an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. They were ably led by Tous- 
saint, Christophe, and Dessalines, and fought with the bravery of 
desperation." Yellow fever came to the assistance of the blacks. 
Leclerc sought to repair the damage by fresh troops, but it was no use ; 
he himself fell a victim to the disease and died. He was succeeded by 
Rochambeau ; but although the French won the battles, he was forced to 
abandon the contest and finally left the Island in December, 1803. It is 
said that the French spent in this fruitless expedition 200,000,000 francs 
and sacrificed 55,000 of their best troops. 

General Leclerc finding it impossible to conquer Toussaint by force 
of arms, descended to intrigue. Napoleon sent back his sons, who were 
at school in France bearing messages of mingled threat and promise. 
Toussaint would not violate his trust and betray liberty that had been 
purchased with so much blood. Christophe and Dessalines for some 
cause became dissatisfied, and unsuspecting treachery, Toussaint and 
Rigaud were induced to accept terms. They were made prisoners, sent 
at once to Brest, then to Paris, where they were lodged in the Temple. 
Soon after, Toussaint was transferred to the Castle of Joux, near Besan- 
con, where his faithful attendant. Mars Plaiser, was taken from him, 
and where he had to undergo close confinement. His health failed, and 
he died on April 27th, 1803. 

"A devout Catholic, he gloried in fighting for his king, but the 
decree of the convention emancipating slaves worked an unexpected 
change. He joined the Republic, and soon made it supreme in Hayti. 
Refusing a crown offered by the English, saving the French Governor 
from the mulattoes and protecting all races alike, he became the real 
ruler of the country. His civil administration was in no way inferior to 
his conduct in war. Those who had been slaves were sunk in idleness ; 
he commanded all to work. Vigilant, energetic, incorruptible, merciful 
to his enemies, severe to his friends when required by jjublic good, and 
entirely free from the prejudices of race, he alone was able to govern (he 
colony. After seven years of formal dictatorship, to give his authority a 
surer foundation he sent home the draft of a constitution which provided 
for the freedom of all races, he himself being created governor for life, 
with power to name his successor. But before it reached Europe the 
peace enabled Bonaparte to send a great armament to Hayti. Toussaint 
counselled submission ; but when war broke out he threw his lot in with 
his fellows. Overpowered, he was nominally set free, but soon after en- 
trapped and carried to France. He died in eighteen months, from the 
hardness of his imprisonment in the Jura. Six months later France 
abandoned Hayti forever." — Pierre Lafitte. 



52 LIBERTY PRIMER 

April 27th, 1822. General U. S. Grant born at Point Pleasant, Clearmont 
County, Ohio. 

He graduated at West Point, Brevet Second Lieutenant of Infantry, 
July 1st, 1843. He joined tlie army under General Zacliary Taylor, in 
Texas, and was promoted for gallant and meritorious service at Molino 
del Eey and Chapultepec, and became Captain. On July 31st, 1854, he 
resigned from the army and became, first, a farmer, near St. Louis, and 
then a clerk in his father's store at Galena. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War he was made Colonel of the Illinois 
Twenty-first Volunteers ; he was promoted Brigadier-General, May 17th, 
1861 ; Major-General, February 16th, 1862 ; Lieutenant-General, March 
2d, 1864 ; General, July 25th, 1866. He was President of the United 
States from March 4th, 1869, to March 4th, 1877, and on March 3d, 1885, 
was restored by Congress to the army and placed on the retired list with 
the rank of General of the Army. 

After retiring from the Presidency he made an extended tour of the 
world and was received with marked distinction by the people and rulers 
everywhere. He then went to New York to reside ; here he placed his 
capital in a banking house in which his son was a partner, but he, per- 
sonally, took no part in the management. The firm failed and General 
Grant was financially ruined. At this juncture he accepted an offer of a 
leading magazine to contribute a series of articles having reference to the 
principal campaigns of the civil war. "Although he had never 
engaged in literary work, he proved himself a clear and lucid 
writer, and his contributions to the history of the war are of great 
value." In the summer of 1884, he developed in his mouth and 
throat a soreness, which, on consulting a physician, was declared to be 
cancerous. The trouble grew rapidly worse, and he knew that his days 
were numbered. With this knowledge clearly before him he sat down 
to prepare for publication his memoirs, in order to make provision for 
those who were dearest to him. The last page of this work was finished 
four days before his death. He died at Mt. McGregor, near Saratoga, 
N. Y., July 23d, 1885. 

" His military and political career are a part of the history of his 
country. A plain, quiet, gentle, unostentatious, reticent man, he at- 
tracted little attention to himself, personally. But his inflexible reso- 
lution, that held steadily to its purpose through every delay and disaster ; 
his fertility of resource to meet each movement of his wary opponents ; 
his power of handling great masses of men, and of manoeuvering in 
concert the widely separated Federal armies ; his unruffled calmness, 
alike in moments of defeat and of triumph ; his quick decision and 
prompt action in great emergency, as if he had prepared for it ; above all, 
his sublime faith in his ultimate and perfect success, inspired his 
companions-in-arms with an intense devotion and made him to them the 
very ' incarnation of the cause for which they were fighting.' " — Barnes^ 
History. 



LIBERTY PKIMER 53 

" The most brilliant jewels of his crown will be that he counselled 
peace and reconciliation among his countrymen, and that he demon- 
strated the justice and wisdom of settling disputes among nations, not 
by war, but by arbitration." — Chauncey M. Depew. 

April 28fh, 1758. James Monroe Born in Westmoreland County, Va. 

When the .Revolution broke out in 1776, he left William and Mary 
College to join the Continental Army. He participated in the actions at 
Harlem Heights. White Plains and Trenton, where he was dangerously 
wounded. In the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, he was an aide to Gen. 
William Alexander (Lord Sterling), and was at the battles of Brandy- 
wine, Germantown and Monmouth. At the request of Thomas Jefferson, 
then Governor of Virginia, be was sent as Commissioner to visit the 
Southern Army under command of Baron De Kalb in 1780. Returning, 
he began the study of law under Jefferson. In 1782 he was a member of 
the Assembly of Virginia, and was called to a seat in the Executive 
Council. From 1783-1786 was a member of Congress, and in 1787 a 
member of the Constitutional Convention, and also a member of the State 
Convention that adopted it. On March 12th, 1790, William Grayson, 
the United States Senator from Virginia, died at Dumfries, on his way 
to Congress, and Mr. Monroe was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 
1794 he was the United States Minister to France, and on his return 
in 1799 was elected Governor of the State of Virginia. In 1802, Presi- 
dent Jefferson appointed him to act with Mr. Livingston, then Minister 
to France, and Mr. Charles Piuckney, Minister to Spain, The result 
of this embassy was the purchase by the United States of that vast 
country then known as Louisiana, with indefinable boundaries north 
of the Spanish Colonies, west from the Mississippi. In 1803 he suc- 
ceeded Rufus King as Minister to England. In 1810 he was once more 
in the State Legislature, and in the following year made Governor, 
but before the close of the year he succeeded Robert Smith as Secretary 
of State under President Madison. In 1814 he succeeded John xirm- 
strong as Secretary of War, and in 1816 was elected President, reelected 
in 1820 without any opposition. He died in New York city, July 
4th, 1831. 

On the 2d of December, 1823, he inserted in his annual message to 
Congress, a declaration, which is now known as the " Monroe Doctrine." 
" It was the formation of the sentiment then beginning to prevail, that 
America was for Americans." The United States would not interfere 
with Euroi^ean politics, and European nations must not meddle with the 
politics of any State, either in North or South America. "It has been 
called the Second Declaration of Independence. ' ' 

" Let them bring all the vassels of Europe in arms : 
We 're a world by ourselves." — R. T. Paine. 
Comes out in his message in thundering tone 
And says all he wants is to be let alone. — Anon. 



54 LIBERTY PRIMER 

April 28tb, 1788. Maryland Ratifies the Constitution. 

The people of Maryland were at oue time called "craw-thumpers" 
by politicians. Maryland was the seventh State to Ratify the Consti- 
tution. The State was named in honor of Henrietta Maria, the Queen 
of Charles I. It was the purpose of Lord Baltimore in founding Mary- 
land to erect a Roman Catholic Province upon a feudal basis, with a 
hereditary nobility, &c., but this could not be carried out because of the 
operation of a clause in their charter which prescribed that laws 
could be made only with the "advice and consent and approbation of the 
freemen of said province, or the greater part of them, or by their dele- 
gates or deputies." Maryland took an active part in the war for the 
extinction of French domination on this continent, and the colony was 
among the first to resist and oppose the British aggressions, which led to 
the Revolutionary War. In 1774 the proprietary government came to an 
end and the authority was assumed by the people. The first Republican 
Legislature assembled at Annapolis, February 3d, 1777, and Thomas 
Johnson was the first Republican Governor of the State. 

April 29th, 1745. Oliver Ellsworth Born at Windsor, Conn. 

He graduated at Princeton in 1766, and began the practice of law. 
In 1777 he was a delegate to the Continental Congress. From 1780-1784, 
member of the Council of Connecticut, when he was appointed Judge of 
the Superior Court. In 1787 he served as a member of the Constitutional 
Convention, and when the Constitution was adopted he was chosen Sen- 
ator from Connecticut. In 1796 Washington nominated him Chief 
Justice of the United States. In 1799 President Adams appointed him 
envoy extraordinary to visit France, "to discuss and settle by treaty, 
all controversies between the United States and France." Messrs. 
Oliver Ellsworth, W. R. Davie and W. V. Murray were made members of 
the Commission. W^hen they arrived at France, the Directory had been 
overthrown, and they had to deal with Bonaparte as first Consul. "They 
succeeded in restoring good relations." On the 7th of April, powers 
were exchanged and a treaty concluded on September 30th, 1800. Re- 
turning home in 1800, Judge Ellsworth resigned the office of Chief 
Justice of the United States. The people of Connecticut at once came 
forward and demanded that he should be the Chief Justice for the State. 
This he, however, declined to accept on account of his ill health. He 
die J November 26th, 1807. 

" Mr. Ellsworth was an accomplished advocate, an upright legis- 
lator and an able and impartial judge, a wise and incorruptible patriot, 
who devoted every faculty, every literary acquisition and almost every 
hour of his life to his country's good. " 

April 30th, 1789. Washington inaugurated first President of the United 
States. 
The Revolutionary War began with the Battle of Lexington (April 
19th, 1775) and closed with the surrender of Lord CornwaUis at York- 



LIBEETY PRIMER 55 

town (October 19th, 1781). The British evacuated New York on Novem- 
ber 25th, 1783 ; the army was disbanded, aud, at Annapolis, on December 
23d, 1783, Washington resigned his commission to Congress then in 
session at that place. On May 12th, 1787, the Constitutional Convention 
assembled in Philadelphia and sat until the 17th of September, when the 
new Constitution was promulgated. Within the year 1788 nine states had 
ratitied the Constitution, and in spite of opposition it became binding. 
North Carolina adopted it in 1789. Presidential elections were held in 
eleven states that had adopted the Constitution, except New York, where 
the Legislature failed to make any provision for an election. The 
electoral votes being counted, George Washington received sixty-nine 
votes and John Adams thirty-four. 

The fourth of March was the time appointed for the inauguration of 
the new government, but it was three weeks before a full meeting of both 
houses of Congress could be obtained ; at length the votes were counted 
and George Washington was declared unanimously elected President, 
and John Adams having received the second number of votes, Vice 
President. 

A statue of Washington in Wall street in New York marks the spot 
where the "Father of his Country " took the oath of office. Federal 
Hall was situated at the northeast corner of Wall and Nassau streets, 
where now stands the United States Sub-Treasury Building. On the 
balcony overlooking the open space of Broad street, Washington stood in 
the presence of both branches of the National Legislature and an 
immense concourse of citizens. Chancellor Livingston of New York 
administered the oath of office in the following words : 

"I do solemnly swear that 1 will Mthfully execute the office of 
President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, 
protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." 

The Chancellor then proclaimed him President of the United States. 
This was answered by a salute of thirteen guns and the shouts of the 
multitude. Then bowing, the President retired to the Senate Chamber, 
where he delivered his inaugural address. — Altered, with some additions, 
from Frost's History of the United States. 

April 30. 1889. The Centennial of the Inauguration of George Washington 
as first President of the United States was celebrated by the organi- 
zation in the Long room, Fraunces Tavern, New York, of the Society of 
the Sons of the American Revolution. 
The pledge taken by the members of the Society, on joining, is as 
follows : We pledge ourselves to cherish, maintain and extend the insti- 
tution of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, 
and to aid in securing tor mankind all the blessings of liberty. 

April 30th, 1803. The Cession of Louisiana by France. 

On the day following the signature of the Treaty of Paris (Septem- 
ber 30th, 1800) a secret treaty was concluded at St. Ildefonso between 



56 LIBERTY PEIMER 

France and Spain. This was the Treaty by which Louisiana was 
restored to France. The failure of the Treaty of Amiens to restore a 
permanent peace induced Napoleon to transfer the Louisianas to the 
United States. He consulted Berthier and Marbois ; the conference 
lasted far into the night ; Berthier opposed it, Marbois favored it. Early 
the next morning he called Marbois to him and said ' ' Je reuonce a la 
Louisiane. Ce n'est point seulement la Nouvelle-Orleans que je veuxe 
ceder ; c'est toute la colonic sans en rien reserver." (I renounce Louis- 
iana. It is not only New Orleans that I wish to yield, it is all the 
colony, without reserving anything.) 

The interview took place on the 10th of April, the decision was 
made on the 11th. On the afternoon of the same day the negotiations 
opened by an abrui^t question from Talleyrand to Livingstoij whether 
the United States wished for the whole of Louisiana ; Livingston, who 
had been instructed only to negotiate for New Orleans and the Missis- 
sippi boundary line, said, " No, we only want New Orleans and the 
Floridas." But he soon found he was dealing with a much larger 
question, and Monroe arriving the same day from America, with fresh 
instructions to aid in its disposition. Napoleon empowered Marbois to 
negotiate for France, and instructed him to consent to the transfer 
provided he could secure 50,000,000 francs. He did secure 80,000,000, 
20,000,000 of which were to be applicable to the extinguishment of 
claims against I'rance, and 60,000,000 were to be paid in cash to France. 
When it was concluded Napoleon said, " Cette accession de territoire, 
affermit pour toujours la puissance des Etats Unis, et je viens de donner 
a I'Angleterre un rival maritime, qui t6t on tard abaissera son orgueil." 
(This accession of territory strengthens forever the power of the United 
States, and I give to England a maritime rival, which sooner or later 
will lower her pride.) — Treaties and Conventions between the United States 
and Foreign Powers, 1889. 

The French Expedition against San Domingo under Gen. Leelerc 
(February 12th, 1802 to December, 1803), had j^roved an utter failure. 
55,000 French troops and 200,000,000 franco had been sacrificed. War 
with England was daily becoming more imminent, and the plans that 
Napoleon liad prepared in regard to Louisiana were impracticable. The 
offer made by Jefferson to pay Spain for the Floridas was received, but 
instead of accepting it Napoleon* now proposed to transfer the whole of 
Louisiana itself. This, as we saw above, was accepted by the United 
States, and the immense tract then called Louisiana, embracing all the 
vast territory west of the Mississippi, was added to the country at a cost 
of $15,000,000. 

April 30th, 1812. Louisiana admitted to tfie Union. 

Louisiana, the Creole State, the fifth to be admitted to the Union. 

The earliest record of exploration was that of De Soto, who landed 
in Florida, and made the journey through the Avoods to the swamps of 



LIBERTY PRI3IER 57 

the Mississippi iu 15-11. He died the year following aud was buried in 
the waters of the great river. In 1673 Marquette and Joliet descended 
the river to the mouth of the Arkansas. In 1682 La Salle followed the 
river to the Gulf of Mexico, and in the name of Louis XIV. took 
possession, aud iu honor of the king called it Louisiana. 

In 1698 two frigates sailed irom Brest under the command of Pierre 
le Moyne Iberville and his brother Bien\ille ; who entered the Mississippi 
and fortified Biloxi, and in 1700 ascended the river ; this appears to have 
been the first successful settlement, but finding their location unhealthful 
Bienville moved the settlement to Mobile. In 1706 the colonists were 
led to the present site of New Orleans, where they made a stand and 
unfurled the flag of France. 

In 1712 Louis XIV. gave to Anthony Crozat the exclusive privilege, 
for fifteen years, of trading in Louisiana, of sending a ship once a year 
for a cargo of slaves to Africa, workiug mines, etc., etc.. one-fourth of the 
profits to revert to the king. Crozat in 1717, transferred all his interest 
to a chartered company, " Compagnia des Indes-Occidentales," under 
the leadership of John Law, a Scotchman. The capital of this concern 
was in 200,000 shares, amounting to 100,000,000 livres. The concern was 
extended and became a National Bank, causing a speculative mania that 
lasted until May, 1720, which finally involved in ruin half of the French 
nobility. In 1731 the concern resigned its interest to the crown, who in 
1762 ceded all Louisiana to Spain, but in 1800 Spain reconveyed the 
province back to France by the Treaty of St. Ildefonso on October 1st. 
In 1803 France ceded the province to the United States. In 1804 the 
Territory of Orleans was organized (March 26th) comprising nearly the 
limits of the present State. The Act of April 8th, 1812, admitted the 
Territory of Orleans into the Union as the State of Louisiana, the 
remainder of the Territory having been organized as the Territory of 
Louisiana with its capital at St. Louis on March 3d, 1805, but on the 4th 
of June, 1812, the name of that Territory was changed to Missouri. 
Under the above Act Louisiana became a State on April 30th, 1812. 



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